‘CAN’T WAIT TO WORK WITH SRK’

Karan Johar says he is very keen to collaborate with the superstar again in ‘a fullfledged manner’

Clearly, 2018 is an important year for Karan Johar in more ways than one – firstly, he completes 20 years in Bollywood (his directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai featuring Shah Rukh Khan released in 1998). Plus, the current year will also see him start pre-production work on his next directorial after the 2016 hit, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. And the film-maker admits that he is really keen to team up with SRK again.

“I just can’t wait to share cinema space with Shah Rukh again. In the last two years, we co-produced films together such as Student Of The Year (2012) and Dear Zindagi (2016) but now I can’t wait to collaborate with him in a fullfledged manner because I know whenever we do something together, it will be extraordinary and amazing,” says Karan, adding that SRK “isn’t just a part of my career”. “He is a part of my life as well. Shah Rukh, Gauri and the kids – Aryan, Suhana and AbRam – are my immediate family. I won’t even use the word ‘dosti.’ Apart from dad (late Yash Johar) and mum (Hiroo Johar), I consider SRK and Aditya Chopra’s families my other families in the city. They will always be in every part and beat of my life,” he says.

So, the big question is: will his next star SRK? “Now that I am back from my birthday break (in UK), I will take all those decisions but I know one thing: he has been one of my best experiences in cinema ever and it’s something that I can’t wait to repeat,” says Karan, who has become one of the most famous Hindi filmmakers in the last 20 years.

Ask him if he ever feels pressurised due to people’s expectations and he says, “Not really! I stopped feeling that a while ago. At one point, I realised that it was getting to me. I feel I no longer want to worry about expectations as my biggest job is to kind of compete with my own self. I think that’s what I want to keep things to.”

The Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) director admits he has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being a part of “every vertical that I’ve ever engaged in”. “I haven’t limited myself to just being a director, and I just can’t be more grateful to everyone for two decades of love and immense acceptance. They continue to empower me to exist,” he says.

I haven’t limited myself to just being a director, and I just can’t be more grateful to everyone for two decades of love and immense acceptance. They continue to empower me to exist. KARAN JOHAR, FILMMAKER