Karan Johar talks nostalgia with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway ahead of The Devil Wears Prada 2

Bollywood filmmaker spoke with the duo to discuss the sequel, which comes 20 years after the original film

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar recently sat down with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway to discuss their upcoming film The Devil Wear Prada 2, set to release on May 1.

In collaboration with 20th Century Studios India, Johar spoke with the duo to discuss the sequel, which comes 20 years after the original film.

Opening the conversation, Johar shared his obsession with the first movie, saying he had watched it “200 times” and joked, “I’m having a bit of an out-of-body experience.”

Meryl reflected on her character, saying, “Miranda is not everybody’s idea of a good boss, but she is incredibly, reliably in charge… and she loves working, which I suspect you do.” Johar agreed, saying, “All the time. Where else can you sing, dance, and cry?”

Discussing the sequel’s long-awaited return, Johar asked how they deal with nostalgia.

Meryl explained, “The world has changed so profoundly in 20 years… we bring all of that into this new incarnation,” adding that the film explores the digital revolution in journalism and themes of growing older and stepping away from the industry.

“The film you loved premiered before we had phones. I’ve changed in 20 years. And you have changed’, she said pointing to Anne.

Anne shared how returning to the role felt personal: “How many times in your life have you thought, I wish I could go back knowing what I know now? I got to do that.”

Meryl also applauded the writer Aline Bosh McKenna stating that it “took that long for her to find a concept and the moment we are in right now where journalism and publishing is, to place those characters in jeopardy in the shifting space of the moment to make accommodation of where we are now”.

“That’s where I feel like Miranda is. She is navigating unchartered waters”, she said.

Touching on their looks, Johar lightheartedly praised Meryl and Anne for their timeless looks, joking, “None of you have changed. What is this Benjamin Button phenomenon ruling these two ladies?”

The conversation then shifted to fashion, with Johar reflecting on costume design as storytelling, referencing the first film's iconic red sweater.

“I was never interested… I looked at how we dress as a manifestation of character”, shared Meryl, while Anne credited designer Patricia Field for shaping her perspective, saying, “I learned art as a form of fashion from her,” which also led to her connection with Valentino.

Johar also praised Meryl’s acting, noting, “Are you aware that you can break a sentence just in the way Meryl Streep can?” to which she laughed, “Probably, I’m not aware.” He concluded the interview by asking the two stars to say something to each other.

“I don’t have anything that is unsaid. I think Anne is an amazing artist and it was a pleasure to encounter you as a grownup. A large part of success in the film was how young women and everybody could identify with that identity.”

Anne added, “I want you to do theatre please."