Karan Johar prefers films over television shows
Karan Johar has mastered the big-screen, and has released well-crafted films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Student of the Year (2012). Apart from these, Karan has also produced a ton of movies under his Dharma Productions banner. Howev
er, the director plans to direct and produce films and has chosen to stay clear from directing a television series.
Speaking about the Indian television industry, Karan said, “The TV industry lives around TRPs, like the box office for cinema. Every Wednesday morning is a wake-up call for TV people. One day it is Zee TV on top, then it is Colors, and so on. I don`t know how does all this work. Seeing all this, I think cinema is far more progressive because it gives you an opportunity to make all kinds of movies.” For the director, the world of movies is seemingly ahead than what’s being shown on television today. Highlighting this he said, “Every time they try something new, it does not work and does not get TRPs (television rating points), because of which they go back to doing and showing strange things.”
The Dharma Productions chief has no qualms making appearances on television shows however and has previously featured in a talk-show titled Koffee With Karan. The show was a hit and went on to air several seasons. Apart from that, Karan has also judged several reality shows including “India`s Got Talent” and the celebrity dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa”.
Quoting Karan, “One thing I would love to sit back and watch a singing show, but I really think I would be the wrong person to judge a singing show. I can judge singing on a very surface level, but I don`t have the right expertise to judge it.”
Karan Johar – A film enthusiast!
Karan Johar is undoubtedly one of the most sought after directors of today. The son of the late Yash Johar and the chief of Dharma Productions, Karan Johar has made a mark in history with his films. He is known for his soul-touching stories and star-studded films and is recognized as one of the few directors who have managed to roll out some of Bollywood’s highest grossing films. 
Karan was born on the 25th of May, 1972 and completed his education at the Green Lawns High School. He then enrolled at the H.R. College of Commerce and Economics and also went on to earn his master’s degree in French. The filmmaker began his career in the Bollywood industry with his short yet memorable appearance in the film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995. The film stared Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Karan Johar also helped director Aditya Chopra with the screen play of the film, which proved to be a smashing hit. This film’s success led Karan Johar to direct his first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 which in turn was very well received, encouraging Karan Johar to roll out more movies.
Karan then went on to direct the blockbusters Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). He also made small screen appearances with the hit television talk show, Koffee With Karan. His most recent release, Student of the Year, is also his first film without a star-packed cast. With fresh faces Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan playing the lead, the film is a step away from Karan Johar’s usual movie-making trend.
Karan Johar rumored to have drawn plans for a Student of the Year franchise
Karan Johar’s Student of the Year film is all that has been on the minds of his fans, particularly the younger audiences including teenagers, who were left overwhelmed with the film and its fresh and trendy new cast. The film starred Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, all of who made their debut with Karan’s fifth directorial venture. The film was a blockbuster and gave the box office a heyday after its release on the 19th of October, 2012.
As expected, the excitement of the film hasn’t died down for its producer-director, Karan Johar. The Dharma Productions chief plans to turn the campus romance into a full-fledged franchise, rolling out yet another film centered on the same competition, with more newcomers and a twist in the story. “The concept of the school competition, which the movie revolves around, will remain the same, but the challenges, the characters and the story will change with each film. Karan also plans to launch new faces with every installment of the franchise. The response that SOTY got was encouraging,” says an insider.
The Student of the Year franchise, if launched as planned, could very well turn into a fantastic platform to bring new talent to the big-screen. The upcoming movie could very well be a fantastic way to introduce newcomers, who usually find it hard to make it big at the time of their launch. Also, given the fact that the films will be productions by one of the biggest filmmaking houses in the country, this could very well turn into a feasible plan! “The second version of SOTY, if all goes well, should release by next year,” says the source, adding, “He’s open to letting directors come on board too. He has already laid the foundation by directing the first film.”
“Karan put in a lot of faith in all of us,” says SOTY star, Alia Bhatt
“Getting love from fans and their appreciation, nonetheless, brings a different kind of a feeling in the actor within me. All I know is that I will have to not take this success lightly but try to put in all my sincere efforts in the right directions, in order maintain this success hereafter”, says newcomer Alia Bhatt who has recently made her big-screen debut with the film Student of the Year. Starring alongside Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan in the lead, the 19-year-old has left the audiences impressed and awestruck with her look in the film and her performance as a campus sweetheart.
Dazzling Alia Bhatt praises Karan Johar
“I’d never imagined that I’d get to do my first film with Karan Johar-it was a big deal for me! And even though he didn’t have a big name in his movie, he never compromised on the film…he went all out and made it like he would make it with other stars. Karan puts in a lot of faith in all of us and that made us feel confident about ourselves”, says Alia Bhatt, praising her director-mentor Karan Johar.
The young actor plays the role of Shanaya Singhania in the film while Varun Dhawan plays her boyfriend, Rohan Nanda. Siddharth Malhotra plays the new kid at school, Abhimanyu Singh, who manages to gain Shanaya’s attention and affections, causing a love triangle. Unlike her on-screen character however, Alia isn’t the typical spoiled brat with a filmy background. “I’ll be kicked out of the house if I expect any celebrity treatment. I’m not a celebrity at all. I’m just an actor and performer. A celebrity and a star is what the audience makes you. At home, I’m just the youngest person in this house, and that’s what I’m treated like.”
Alia Bhatt will next be seen in the film adaptation of author Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller, 2 States and will star opposite actor Arjun Kapoor.
Kajol credits Karan Johar for her makeover
Kajol has been gushing recently and she simply can’t stop smiling! The actress has taken up the task of shedding weight, walking out with a slimmer and trimmer look. The actress has starred in several films before and has recently decided to turn a little conscious about her health. Kajol thanks her filmmaker-friend Karan Johar for her weight-loss success! 
“Karan was partly responsible for it. Kudos to him for making a brand out of himself and going beyond than just being a director. There are many facets to Karan. When I saw that happening with him, I realized times have changed and so has the media.” She also went on to add, “If you want to build yourself as a brand, then you have to work on it and this was a conscious decision on my part. I had to change my attitude towards certain things. With time and patience I want to do it.”
Karan Johar has worked with Kajol several times in the past. The actress has made appearances in Karan Johar’s directorial ventures including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and My Name is Khan. The actress also made a special appearance in a song in the film Student of the Year, Karan Johar’s 2012 directorial release.
There have also been no reports if the actress and the Dharma Productions honcho plan to work with each other anytime in the near future for now. Professions apart, the two continue to remain great friends!
“I couldn’t launch myself,” says Siddharth Malhotra
Siddharth Malhotra turned popular after his debut in Student of the Year. The film was directed by his mentor Karan Johar and was a campus romance packed with Karan’s signature opulence and extravagance. Attaining stardom wasn’t all that easy for this newcomer however. Quoting Siddharth, “When I joined Dharma Productions I was hoping to become either an actor or a filmmaker. It wasn’t a choice. I couldn’t launch myself. Luckily I became an actor. If I wasn’t acting right now then in the next three years I would’ve tried for becoming a director.”
Siddharth started off by assisting director Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan. As an assistant director, Siddharth better understood the art of filmmaking. This stint also got him noticed by Karan Johar who handpicked him for Student of the Year. “You would know what not to do on sets if you take to learning filmmaking. You would know how important it is for you to come on a particular mark, how camera works, short-breaking, how to say the lines, to do acting, to dub on time etc.” says Siddharth, speaking about his stint as an assistant director.
Student of the Year was a dream come true for Siddharth Malhotra. Speaking about his character in the film, Siddharth articulated, “I am playing a character called Abhimanyu. He is a new kid in town; he is very athletic and has come on a scholarship. He belongs to middle class. But with Dharma Productions and Manish Malhotra there’s no such thing as poor. I am supposed to be a middle class kid with no parents but I enter the college wearing leather jacket, cool shades, jeans, shoes. When I questioned them they said it’s ‘Dharma Garib’. I understood what they meant and played everything with conviction.”
Student of the Year was a risk that paid off for Karan Johar!
The Bollywood industry might’ve been skeptical about Karan Johar’s plans to rope in three debutants for a big-budget film but director Karan Johar seems to have taken a risk that paid off! Stepping away from the usual with his latest release, Student of the Year, Karan Johar roped in newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt for the lead. Together, the three have made their first big screen appearance with Student of the Year. 
Quoting Karan, “For me, my impulse told me that Varun and Siddharth Malhotra were Rohan and Abhimanyu of this film. I didn’t want to look at anybody else. I didn’t even audition hundred other actors. I just knew they were boys who were Associate Directors on ‘My Name Is Khan’. Karan Malhotra (director of ‘Agneepath’ and also an AD on ‘My Name is Khan) is a disciplinarian. He said they (Varun and Siddharth) came back late in the night and were with girls and partying. I was like, “Oh my God! These two are born heroes!” and I knew it then (laughs).”
Siddharth Malhotra and Varun were handpicked for the roles of Abhimanyu Singh and Rohan Nanda while Alia Bhatt was auditioned for the role of Shanaya Singhania. Siddharth Malhotra is a model-turned-actor while Varun and Alia both hail from filmy backgrounds. Varun is the son of the veteran filmmaker David Dhawan while Alia is director Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter.
Also, Siddharth, Varun and Alia have left the audiences asking for more and have managed to carve a youthful and hip image in B-town. The film Student of the Year was proclaimed a hit after its release on the 19th of October, 2012.
“Money is necessary; I have no qualms in admitting that,” says Siddharth Malhotra
Being a star may seem like a lot of fun but it certainly isn’t easy, and newcomer Siddharth Malhotra seems to understand that pretty well. The actor has had a dream debut in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year and has reached for the stars already, signing multiple films after his successful first appearance. Siddharth was taken under the Dharma Productions chief, Karan Johar’s wing, and owes his success to the banner and the filmmaker. “He is very
intelligent guy. If he has invested in me, he is also making sure that there are good enough returns. He is keeping his ears and eyes open on people who are currently casting for leads. I am getting good help there”, said Siddharth malhotra in a recent interview.
The actor also went on to say, “In the world of glamour, I need to make sure that there is a big ‘gaadi’ and better wardrobe. Mumbai is an expensive city to live and to live a decent lifestyle; I need to make certain amount of money. For someone like me, it is all the more priority since I am not from here. So yes, money is necessary; I have no qualms in admitting that”, confirming the fact that he continues to be grounded in reality instead of losing his path to stardom.
In the near future, Siddharth will be seen starring in the romantic comedy Hasee Toh Phasee and the action-thriller The Villain. “I was told by people after Student of the Year that I should be doing an intense love story. Then there are others who wanted me to do hardcore comedy. I am fiddling with both. Let’s see how exciting things turn out to be now. It is too early to close on one particular genre and say that I have found a niche. It would be unfair for me to be tagged in good or bad in anything in particular so early in my career,” said the youngster.
Saqib Saleem to be personally mentored by Karan Johar
Karan Johar introduced several newcomers before, polishing them to perfection and launch them to a long and fulfilling career. Previously, he has launched directors Nikhil Advani, Tarun Mansukhani, Ayan Mukerji and Punit Malhotra amongst others. In Student of the Year, his fifth directorial venture, Karan Johar paved the way for debutenats Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Kayoze Irani. The four debutants had a spectacular debut in this campus romance and Siddharth, Alia and Varun have already signed their next films which will soon hit cinema screens in India and around the globe.
Now, director-producer has taken up the task of mentoring actor Saqib Saleem, who will make his debut in a soon-to-release film by Y Films titled Mere Dad Ki Maruti. Karan Johar has also roped in Saqib for a role in his upcoming directorial venture, a short-film that will be part of Bombay Talkies. Saqib will star in the film’s lead alongside seasoned actors Randeep Hooda and Rani Mukherji.
As expected, the young actor is excited about this move by Karan Johar. A source close to him recently revealed, “Saqib has been planning to keep the special screen soon for Karan. He is very excited to show Karan is acting skills. He has been in talks with YRF to allot him a screen and time for the screening only for Karan.” While the film Mere Dad Ki Maruti will release on the 15th of March, 2013, Karan Johar’s Bombay Talkies short film will release on the 3rd of May. Parts of the film will also be directed by the filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibaker Banerjee.
Karan Johar – “Shah Rukh Khan is like my family!”
While the world seems to think that actor Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are at loggerheads. The filmmaker says otherwise however, claiming that nothing indeed has gone sour between him and his lucky-charm-friend, Shah Rukh Khan! The actor and the filmmaker have joined hands several times before to roll out memorable films that include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (199
8), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). Karan’s most recent directorial venture, Student of the Year, was produced jointly by Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s banner, Red Chillies Entertainment.
When asked about his rumored tiff with Shah Rukh Khan, Karan said, “He (SRK) is like my family…I think that answers all questions.” The filmmaker, known to keep his private life away from prying eye, further went on to add, “I think a lot has been said and cleared. I am not going to talk about my personal life.” Recently, after a controversy boiled up around Shah Rukh Khan, Karan tweeted to show his support for the actor, saying, “Ridiculous misinterpretation of @iamsrk`s` words…an extremely well written piece being subjected to political agenda…a shame!!!!(sic)”.
Well, rumors are here to stay and there is indeed no beating them. The Dharma Productions chief meanwhile has learned to cope with these and simply ignore all that’s untrue, without so much of a cringe! Up ahead, Karan Johar will release a bunch of productions including Hasee Toh Phasee, Ungli and Bombay Talkies amongst others.
Karan Johar - The Enthusiast 