My next film will be a fun musical: Johar

Karan Johar decides to make a fun musical with at least 10 songs, a complete departure from My Name is Khan.

MUMBAI: Karan Johar’s next directorial venture is finally in place. He has decided to make a fun musical with at least 10 songs, a complete departure from his last film My Name is Khan.

“In My Name is Khan I couldn’t have my protagonist singing on screen. Though I’m very proud of its songs, I somehow feel deprived when I don’t do full-on lip-sync songs. My next will be a full-fledged musical with the characters singing away on screen. At the moment that’s all I can tell you,” said Johar.

The Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer My Name is Khan released this February. Johar, who was forced to take a break when he contracted malaria recently, says he finally got time to ponder over what he wants to direct next.

“I suppose out of every setback, some good is bound to happen. So yes, that elusive idea for my next film for which I even took time off to be in New York but came back empty-brained, is finally locked in,” he said.

“I don’t think I should be talking about it so soon. But I can’t help it. After a serious film like My Name is Khan, I am moving into the fun zone. I am doing a fun-and-frolic film. I don’t care if ‘frolic’ is too frivolous a word. That’s what I am doing in my next.”

Johar also had Amitabh Bachchan over for dinner last weekend. Would it be correct to assume that the star will feature in his next directorial venture?

“Amitji just came home for a dinner to spend an evening with my mother and me. Every time I speak to him, I feel blessed. I’m very fortunate to have not just known him but also worked with him. Of course, I’d love to work with him again and with Abhishek.”

Johar intends to invite Shah Rukh Khan and Bachchan as guests on his chat show “Koffee With Karan”.

Johar is currently hosting the third season of the show.

“Fortunately, I had shot four episodes before I fell ill. So there’s a bank. I’m proud of what I’ve shot so far. People talk about the rivalry between Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. On my show they got along so well,” he said.

Interestingly, Padukone is said to have confirmed on Johar’s show that she had accused Ranbir Kapoor of two-timing when they were dating.

“I’m not saying anything. Just watch my show,” Johar said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2010.