KARAN JOHAR

The man who is apparently everywhere, doing everything, being everyone’s best friend, was at the conclave, too. Forthcoming, frank, amusing and assured, one of Bollywood’s best known filmmakers, Johar (KJ), was in a chat with moderator Koel Purie Rinchet (KPR). A snapshot from Coffee With Karan: KPR: You wear many, many hats: director, actor, businessman, TV host, dancer, and now father. Which hat fits you the best? KJ: Well, I am hoping it is the one which qualifies me as a filmmaker. It is where it all started. Everything else has been like a perk, an opportunity, the result of my space in cinema. KPR: So do you feel that by being everywhere, there might be a sort of an overload of KJo, that people may get sick of you? KJ: That’s a bit of a double-edged sword, but you do what you enjoy. I mean, there are things you do sometimes that are heavyhanded. Say, films like My Name is Khan, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Student of the Year was a popcorn entertainer at best and I worked towards it because I felt younger. My decision to do TV was also because there was a large part of India that needed to be aware of what I do, what I say and how I go about things. So I did India’s Got Talent and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. It so happened that they ended up making me dance on national television. KPR: Ohh, you love it, Karan. Karan: I do, but you know I am kind of stupid and silly, and should not be doing that because I am a filmmaker. But I love it. You have to be unapologetic and passionate about everything you do. So I do what I do and that makes me, like, really happy.