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 (1998), 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.

Shah Rukh Khan co-produces Karan Johar’s Student of the Year

Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan have been the best of friends for as long as we can remember. The two have worked together several times in the past and Karan has been known to consider Shah Rukh Khan as a lucky mascot. After casting the superstar for all of the films directed by him in the past including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), Karan decided to step away from his trend and rope in newcomers for his latest release, Student of the Year. The new film, a campus romance, stars newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt instead, with Shah Rukh Khan lending a hand in the film’s production under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment.        

However, Shah Rukh Khan hasn’t just produced the film jointly with Dharma Productions. The superstar has also given acting tips to the young actors Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan who have worked as assistant directors, lending a hand in the making of the film My Name is Khan. “During that film, his script used to be scribbled with notes. I used to take the scripts to him and asked him what it is? It was all his references, his homework. So we could just learn by looking at him,” articulated Varun Dhawan, speaking about his experience with Shah Rukh Khan.

Siddharth Malhotra went on to add, “During the shooting of My Name Is Khan, he (Shah Rukh Khan) came to know that we both wanted to act. I used to give the clap and then sit down. He used to prepare his lines and then suddenly he used to start talking – You should come early, see the props, touch things and feel them, look at your surroundings”.

Student of the Year is a campus romance that released on the 19^th of October, 2012. The film marks the debut of Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt.