Karan Johar reveals why he won't make Hollywood films
Indian filmmaker Karan Johar is basking in the glory of his recent directorial, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer brought the renowned director out of his seven-year hiatus, as Johar grapples with his responsibilities as the head of Dharma Productions and hosting his infamous talk show, Koffee With Karan.
Discussing the changes in the entertainment industry since his feature debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, marking its 25th anniversary this year, he highlighted the impact of the digital revolution. He referred to it as “heartbreaking,” stating, “The magic of [print] is so different than what digital film can give you, but you grow to accept it.”
“More than anything else, I feel like there is a tremendous loss of innocence,” he continued. “When I made my first film, a lot of it came from that innocence. Now you feel more policed by social media and the critics, and you intellectualize your convictions. That is a downside to the growth of cinema.”
Johar, well aware of the nepotism discourse in the film industry, reflected on the attention it has garnered recently. “We were leading on this one,” he remarked. Defending his choice to cast Alia Bhatt in Student of the Year, he mentioned, “There was an instinct I had when I first saw Alia’s audition. She is in many ways my firstborn because the feeling is very parental. When she walked into the room, it didn’t matter who her father was, she just jumped out. Many years later, it’s been attributed to nepotism and it’s just unfortunate and not true.”
Despite his success in India, Johar hasn’t entertained thoughts of Hollywood. He recalled the time after the success of My Name Is Khan, when he travelled to Los Angeles multiple times for meetings. “It took a couple of trips to Los Angeles to realize that it is all wonderful and you have a lot of meetings, but my heart is in my country and my cinema is in my heart,” he said. “I don’t want to leave that. I don’t want to make films without the language that’s raised me.”
Receiving the Variety Vanguard Award, Johar acknowledged, “Holding this award today is an achievement. I don’t need to make an English film to [win] it. It would be amazing to walk the Academy Awards red carpet, but I would like for it to be with a Hindi-language film.”
While he doesn’t harbour Hollywood aspirations, he confessed to one dream: meeting Meryl Streep. “It’s the only item on my bucket list. If I could have an hour with her, I could die and go to heaven.” He continued, “Her ability to be relevant in any decade is so admirable. The thing about relevance is that you have to evolve with the times, and there are a few artists who understand that more than others and I think she’s one of them.”
Reflecting on Indian cinema, Johar noted, “The most common misconception foreign audiences have about Indian cinema is that 'we are all about song and dance.' That misconception has pushed us many years behind.” He emphasized the diverse storytelling available in Indian cinema and expressed gratitude for streaming services that are making these stories accessible globally.
“The world needs to wake up to Indian stories and storytelling,” he urged, emphasizing the richness and diversity of narratives that deserve global attention.
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