Karan Johar: We are not poor cousin of any industry

Recently, at the Indian School of Business Leadership Summit (ILS), filmmaker Karan Johar spoke about the need to stop segregating cinema into different regions and instead start promoting Indian cinema as a whole. He asserted the need to break free of the regional barriers and unite all Indian films under a single roof. Karan said, “Bollywood is a term we have learnt to live with. It is disheartening that you have to keep using it in the world because that is our identity. We are not poor cousin of any industry. We are tall industry of our own and we have made some spectacular movies.”

He termed ‘Baahubali’ as the only real crossover film of the country which managed to go cross all corners of the country. He called it an extraordinary film and stated that the director Rajamouli, actors Prabhas, Rana, Tamannaah and others became future stars post its stupendous success. However, he added that the movie was above its stars and the script and budget were more important than any superstar or megastar. He said that the star system had died down in Hollywood almost 10 years back and Bollywood too was heading in the same direction. (Also Read: Karan Johar tweets about talent and overconfidence. Another dig at Kangana?)

He further spoke about his movie ‘My Name Is Khan’ reaching beyond the NRI market and connecting with the non-Indian audiences. He said that there may not be another ‘My Name Is Khan’. Karan quoted, “Let us strengthen our domestic industry before we look anywhere else. Indian cinema is a beast of its own. It’s not like anything that you sell off the counter or any other product this country sells. We are part of this beast and victims of it, at times. If you don’t love that beast, don’t own that beast and don’t completely and passionately be absorbed by that, you should not try and sell it.”

He then spoke about the business side of movies by saying that an academic professional who could be well-educated in business and marketing may not necessarily market and sell a Hindi or Indian movie. He stated, “It’s a totally different ballgame and operates from totally different space. We have unconventional and diverse audience.” He recalled that he had once sent a one-page contract to Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to bring them on-board as opposed to well-educated young MBA professionals who send 80-page contracts to actors. He is of the opinion that the industry will witness a golden period in the next 10 years but added that currently, the industry is going through a dark tunnel.

Inputs from IANS

Prajakta Ajgaonkar

Passionate about writing, and a Bollywood lover, she is all that is sweet and endearing! She desires to put her best foot forward in everything that she does and loves to help anyone who’s in need.