'We are not doing the show to ruin relationships' - Karan Johar

Karan Johar is back with his popular show Koffee with Karan, this time with Season 3 on Star World. He shares with us his experiences as a host and also about the show that made the audience go wild.

In this show the stars answer questions that they sometimes do not reveal in their normal interviews. Do you think it is your personal friendship with them that gives you the liberty to ask such questions and do the stars complain about it?
There are people who I am very close to in this industry and there is a comfort zone where I can ask questions a little more liberally as opposed to the other members of the media and also it is the way you frame the questions and how you put it across. I have also introduced people I don't know personally at all and guests who are not personal friends of mine. You have to draw a fine line between offending someone and crossing that line and I tend not to offend any guests.

One thing that you always tell your guests who you are comfortable with and to those who you interview in for the first time?
I just tell them that it is a mad show and there is nothing intellectual and serious about it. The basic idea of the show is to show people, how the stars are, when they are comfortable on any topic. And we believe that the more madness in the show, the more successful it is. So I tell them to chill out and have fun and be themselves.

In the previous seasons, were there any stars that you know very well, but felt uncomfortable when they told you that if something happens they would walkout?
First of all, those who were uncomfortable didn't appear in the show at all. But it has happened that they have taken me aside and said like it would be better if you don't ask about a particular topic and sometimes after recording, they have called me up and said that I have said these things but I am uncomfortable so can you please edit it out. If anyone does that I see to it that I cut it out so that I am not here to make anyone uncomfortable.  We are not doing the show to ruin relationships.

The theme of this season is secrets revealed, what's your secret that you would like to reveal?
You have to wait and watch because there are a lot of secrets that will be revealed. We have already shot four episodes and I am scared about my mom watching it because I think she is going to slap me. I have spoken a lot of rubbish on the show this season. There is a little more carefree attitude that I am coming with this season which is not very good for me, but very good for Star World.

Which is your most special interview on Koffee With Karan and why?
I think the most special interview that I had was with the Kapoor family. I have a great connect with the family and they were fantastic. That was the only show wherein I had a blast and they were only talking to each other and so it was a 'Kapoor Chat Show' rather than Koffee With Karan.

How was it being on the other side of the show when Shah Rukh Khan interviewed you?
I always get dumbstruck and get embarrassed whenever he asks certain questions and my face turns red and he knows that he has that effect on me, but I was very cool and I will try to get him this season too.

Whats special in this year's coffee hamper?
There is an iPad and a Blackberry torch. These are the two happening things in the hamper and then the regular cookies and pastries.

How do you manage to get such people on the show, what is the procedure that you follow?
I do the same thing that you do, I call them, ping a message, call their home, but the difference is they pick the call even if it is to say No.

Will you get Shah Rukh Khan and Salman together on this show?
I don't think I will take up this combination together, but they will be invited individually if possible.

Are you sticking only to Bollywood this time or moving beyond Bollywood?
I am trying to go beyond Bollywood, but every time the production says they won't rate, I have a very tough production team and they say that only Bollywood rates.

We have seen Richard Gere in the previous season; can we get to see such Hollywood actors in this season?
Richard Gere happened to be in Mumbai that time and that's how I got him in the show. Talking about a celebrity that I love to have out of Bollywood, it's my dream and honour to interview someone as legendary as Rajnikant.  But I know he is not comfortable with interviews but I keep trying because he is almost like a legend. I would also like to have unusual combination. There is a sequence with Raju Hirani, Imtiaz Ali and Farah Khan. We were four film makers in the same platform and it was a great one. 

How has Karan changed from Season One to Season Three?
I was really nervous and conscious in Season One and I became comfortable by Season two and by season three I am more with the show.

Is there a basis on which guests get to be chosen?
Availability

What do you keep in mind as a host?
I think the fact that I make it comfortable for my guests, never resend, never cross the line and yet make it entertaining and fun.

There was another show that hosted 'Lift Karadey' which didn't work really well, what do you think went wrong?
Well, I can't say it went wrong, because it is nobility and humanity based show and I think the endeavour was not for the ratings but to change people's life and I think it was a philanthropic endeavour. I am really happy to be a part of the show as the intentions were beyond ratings and it's sad to know that people do not want to tune into such shows.

What is that in Koffee With Karan that people like it a lot?
I think it s the comfort in which the stars answer the questions and for audience, it is a voyeuristic feeling, it feels like they are over hearing a lounge chat between friends and that is great. 

Normally it happens that you approach the stars to be on your show, has anyone approached you to take them in your show?
Not that I can remember and it's normally me who approaches. I have got hints in parties when we have a casual talk but no one has told me directly.

Do the stars know the rapid fire questions before hand and are the questions framed by you?
The stars never come to know about the questions and there is a different team to prepare them.

In the last seasons you had included voice bytes from people, can we see them this season too?
Yeah, we will have it depending on the show and combination and it's always interesting to get their feedback because we always get reverends and praises from the industry but it's always interest to go to common people and getting their take on the stars.

Have you ever felt uncomfortable during any of the episodes?
I was not uncomfortable but nervous before my Rakhi Sawant episode because, I really didn't know what I was getting into because that was the only time I was doing the show where I didn't know the guest at all and I thought that she would just be over powering but at the end of the day it was real fun.

At the end, Karan Johar is?
Always a director first and I should never forget that.

Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan