New Delhi, Filmmaker Karan Johar on Tuesday said producer Aditya Chopra and superstar Shah Rukh Khan are the "two pillars" of his life, to whom he owes his 25-year career in cinema.
Johar assisted and played a brief role in Chopra's hit directorial debut "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", a 1995 musical romance film starring Khan and Kajol. Three years later, the two actors made "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", which marked Johar's debut as a director.
“Meeting Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan was also part of my destiny, two pillars, two reasons why I am sitting here today. They accepted something about me that I had not seen in myself.I will always be grateful to him. Everything else was just passion... Maybe I would have been as honest as I was, but what happens when you don't have people who are in powerful positions like that?
“You can still make it completely on your own because your belief system can be strong enough to fight all the obstacles. But I was lucky that my struggles came to light later. My first step was because of two such people. The person who is not related to me had full faith in me. It has a lot to do with luck, but nothing happens without hard work," said the filmmaker.
Johar was in the national capital to attend the ninth National Leadership Conclave of the All India Management Association (AIMA), where he was honored with the 'Director of the Year' award for 2023 for "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani".Sitting down for a chat at the event, the 51-year-old looked back at his career, mistakes, failures and the role of cinema in society.
Not just Khan and Chopra, Johar, son of late producer Yash Johar, said it is not easy to maintain a professional attitude when one is working with actors like Amitabh Bachchan, who stars in one's home banner. Dharma Productions films such as "Dostana" (1980) and "Agneepath" (1990).
Johar shared an interesting anecdote about directing Bachchan for the first time in his second directorial venture "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".
He recalled, “I remember I fainted the day before I was to direct him… I am grateful to Amit uncle for allowing me to become a director, to allow me to direct.,
The director, who is also known for films like "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna", "My Name is I Khan" and last year's hit "Rocky Aur Rani...", said he doesn't believe that I am the last one. Resting on my laurels.
“If you can deal with failure and success in the same way, you will always be a successful person. This does not mean that you should associate success just with money. You should associate it with your own happiness and what you feel within yourself. , add to that. Accept failure, I accept and embrace it.I also analyze it and move on but the thing that moves me forward the fastest is success, because resting on one's laurels is a waste of a lot of time."
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments about films being soft power, Johar said cinema is a "very influential medium".
“We are an influential soft power when we can connect with millions of people through our communication. We have realized again and again what is good and what is bad.
He said, "We have tremendous power and hence, with tremendous power also comes tremendous responsibility...what we project, what we say, you have to account for it with a certain amount of salt and sensitivity because people Take things seriously.,
He said, a film cannot change the fabric of society, but cinema can highlight bigger issues like women empowerment.
“Nothing happens overnight, but I believe that what cinema has shown in the last decade or decade and a half has significantly increased the consciousness of our society. Of course, there is another side to it as well.The films that have come out continue to be damaging, but I hope those filmmakers realize the importance of the platform they have and the voice they have," Johar said.
Johar assisted and played a brief role in Chopra's hit directorial debut "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", a 1995 musical romance film starring Khan and Kajol. Three years later, the two actors made "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", which marked Johar's debut as a director.
“Meeting Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan was also part of my destiny, two pillars, two reasons why I am sitting here today. They accepted something about me that I had not seen in myself.I will always be grateful to him. Everything else was just passion... Maybe I would have been as honest as I was, but what happens when you don't have people who are in powerful positions like that?
“You can still make it completely on your own because your belief system can be strong enough to fight all the obstacles. But I was lucky that my struggles came to light later. My first step was because of two such people. The person who is not related to me had full faith in me. It has a lot to do with luck, but nothing happens without hard work," said the filmmaker.
Johar was in the national capital to attend the ninth National Leadership Conclave of the All India Management Association (AIMA), where he was honored with the 'Director of the Year' award for 2023 for "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani".Sitting down for a chat at the event, the 51-year-old looked back at his career, mistakes, failures and the role of cinema in society.
Not just Khan and Chopra, Johar, son of late producer Yash Johar, said it is not easy to maintain a professional attitude when one is working with actors like Amitabh Bachchan, who stars in one's home banner. Dharma Productions films such as "Dostana" (1980) and "Agneepath" (1990).
Johar shared an interesting anecdote about directing Bachchan for the first time in his second directorial venture "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".
He recalled, “I remember I fainted the day before I was to direct him… I am grateful to Amit uncle for allowing me to become a director, to allow me to direct.,
The director, who is also known for films like "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna", "My Name is I Khan" and last year's hit "Rocky Aur Rani...", said he doesn't believe that I am the last one. Resting on my laurels.
“If you can deal with failure and success in the same way, you will always be a successful person. This does not mean that you should associate success just with money. You should associate it with your own happiness and what you feel within yourself. , add to that. Accept failure, I accept and embrace it.I also analyze it and move on but the thing that moves me forward the fastest is success, because resting on one's laurels is a waste of a lot of time."
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments about films being soft power, Johar said cinema is a "very influential medium".
“We are an influential soft power when we can connect with millions of people through our communication. We have realized again and again what is good and what is bad.
He said, "We have tremendous power and hence, with tremendous power also comes tremendous responsibility...what we project, what we say, you have to account for it with a certain amount of salt and sensitivity because people Take things seriously.,
He said, a film cannot change the fabric of society, but cinema can highlight bigger issues like women empowerment.
“Nothing happens overnight, but I believe that what cinema has shown in the last decade or decade and a half has significantly increased the consciousness of our society. Of course, there is another side to it as well.The films that have come out continue to be damaging, but I hope those filmmakers realize the importance of the platform they have and the voice they have," Johar said.
