“Keen to release My Name Is Khan this year” – Karan Johar

Karan Johar, just back from US, after a gruelling 2 month long shoot for Shahrukh Khan and Kajol’s My Name Is Khan, talks about his next, Dostana 2, his birthday bash, Agneepath remake.. and a lot more in an interview with Mid-day. 

You must be bummed about My Name Is Khan not releasing this year.
Karan Johar: Both Shah Rukh and I were keen to release it this year. But there were some factors that were beyond our control. Now, because of this delay, Shah Rukh doesn’t have a release this year and that is unfortunate. But the circumstances were beyond our control.

Some of the delay was caused by his surgery?
Karan Johar: Not really. Yes, the surgery did push us ahead but also the fact that this is a very tough film to film. Other factors have delayed it. A lot of scheduling had to be done… also there was a lot of computer graphic work. So, we just took a call that we won’t be rushing for no rhyme or reason. Let’s not push it.

So early next year?
Hopefully. We are looking at a January or February release (in 2010).

But you have Kurban and Wake Up Sid ready for release. How involved are you as a producer?
Karan Johar: Up to a point, really. I need to have faith in the director, which I obviously do, because that’s why he is directing a film for me. Once we go through the process of greenlighting the script, scheduling, and structuring the cast and list of technicians, I step out. Because I feel like every filmmaker has to find his or her voice. And there is no point in me sitting there and confusing them. I think that every individual whether it is Tarun or Aayan, or Rensil everyone has his own voice and it has nothing to do with me.

True. Dostana didn’t look like a film directed by you, Kal Ho Na Ho did.
Karan Johar: (Pauses) Dostana is definitely all Tarun. Of course, it has the prerequisites of a Dharma film, like the glamour, the costuming and the whole look and feel but it’s otherwise the performances, the way he moves the story ahead. It’s Tarun’s baby.

And is the sequel (to Dostana) happening?
Karan Johar: It’s definitely happening,

Abhishek and John Abraham are in?
Karan Johar: We can’t do Dostana 2 without John and Abhishek. They are indispensable.

And Katrina Kaif is on for the sequel?
Karan Johar: We haven’t decided any other cast of Dostana 2 (apart from John and Abhishek).

They were some people who felt offended because you left them out of your Birthday party, will they be in your next guest list?
Karan Johar: Everyone who is important to me, was there.

Why did you change the title from Jihaad (Kurban). Also, any worries about your film being similar to New York?
Karan Johar: Rensil was never keen on this title because he wanted the title to resonate the love story much more than the terror angle. Both Rensil and I feel that the love story is the basic moving point of this film. Comparisons to New York are inevitable because they revolve around global terrorism but there are no similarities except maybe atmospheric one, that’s bound to happen because they are both about a certain issue. Otherwise, story-wise and narrative-wise, they are totally different films.

There were reports of tension between you and Aditya Chopra because of the similar subjects.
Karan Johar: I would be really stupid to be best friends with Adi and make the same film. Both Adi and I were completely in the loop of it. What saddens me is that, now, for no reason there will be a comparison whereas it could’ve been avoided. Kurban is entirely different from New York. And I hope that like New York got accepted, this one will too.

Dharma was known for certain kind of films..but now that’s changing. Even the film you are making is different. Would you want to revisit what you are best known for?
Karan Johar: For me, there is never going back, there is always going forward. I think that films I produced and directed were my sensibility at the time. I feel like doing things that make a difference to me today. Whatever I am producing and directing are films I feel like doing today. I don’t think I can write a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or a Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham ever again.

Not even if people expect that from you?
Karan Johar: I get a lot of people coming and telling me, ‘Make another KKHH.’ I can’t. I don’t have that innocence, I don’t have that rawness and I don’t have that love for love anymore. And so it doesn’t come to me naturally. It would be me, trying to be me in 1998, and I am not interested. I want to do films that move me today. Some times they are subjects that have social relevance and sometimes they are subjects that are simple and sweet. Like Wake-up Sid. I am so excited because Dharma is producing so many films and we are working with new energies and talent, and they are bringing their own ideas. A lot of these films I am incapable of making on my own, so I am happy to produce them.

What about (the remake of) Agneepath
Karan Johar: Agneepath is a very important film for me. My father’s (yash Johar) biggest disappointment in life was the failure of Agneepath. Because it was so respected, so revered and had a huge cult following but commercially, it didn’t do well. Also I think it was one of Amit uncle’s finest performances. I remember that it broke my father’s heart at that point that they didn’t refer to it as a commercial success, and he always brought it up. And I decided to do this remake for him, and hopefully, it will work this time.

One hears that you are considering Hrithik for the role. Wouldn’t Abhishek be a natural choice for it?
Karan Johar: We haven’t cast it as yet. That will come when the scripting is ready. We are changing the film. It will be more modern; set in present time. It will be more like a biopic of an underworld don.

My Name Is Khan is your most expensive film yet?
Karan Johar: Yes, it is. We always knew it was going to be a big film, but with recession, and changes in the dollar price, it became more expensive, and now Shah Rukh has stepped in as co-producer to help me.