Karan Johar on Rakhi Sawant

It isn't coffee, but soothing lemon tea on offer at Karan Johar's Dharma Productions office in Khar as he tackles our questions on season two of Koffee with Karan. His hugely successful show on Star World is back on February 11 and the film-maker says that except for the beige and lime green sets and a heavier hamper, the show will retain its chatty, fun brew.

Karan Johar

What's new on the show with season two?
Absolutely nothing. I've shot 25 episodes and am shooting another 25, but it's the same easy, chatty conversation. It's been two years and the set is new, yet comfortable and it's with the film fraternity. You'll see a lot of the same people, but with a new enemy, lover or controversy!

How come you chose lime green as the new coffee mug colour?
To combat envy — I'm giving it right back! No, I'm just joking. It's just a change, like the lie-o-meter is silver instead of white and the hamper is bigger, with more fun stuff.

Like what?
Like this new product that Mac has come up with called iLuv. It's a new gizmo like an iPod, but with video. It's fantastic and rightly called iLuv.

But the show is seen as just Karan and his friends. Have you stepped out of the comfort zone?
Well, there's Dr (Vijay) Mallya who I have great regard for, but we're not buddies and also Mira Nair. Then Richard Gere is an international celebrity, but certainly not my buddy. People have to realise that it's more about the interaction on my show — I'm not a journalist or a talk show host.

I mean I don't even know if I can stretch this beyond two seasons. I could get very serious and get an economist, but would you really want to see that? My show is about the vibe; it's sometimes just about, 'Hey, how was your day?' even though there's a rapid fire round. I'd call it a lounge chat.

That's why the cameras are hidden from the arena. We've placed them in slits in the wall so that they're not really in your face. They seem peek-a-boo and more voyeuristic that way and I feel it results in the best conversation. It shows in your body language; what you see can't bother you.

Richard Gere and you are great dancers. Did you do a little jig?
Well, it's not really a dance and it's at the end, in the darkness. But there's something.

And you joined in?
You'll see! I found him to be very chatty and easy, but he is a man with a mission. We had fun though with the rapid fire round because I couldn't ask him Bollywood questions. They were more 'Julia Roberts or Catherine Zeta Jones' type. He answered the questions with a slant.

You laugh and you cry in Karan Johar's movies. Don't you want guests to shed the odd tear or bare their souls?
I don't want that. There are too many successful shows like Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. Even my show is a 'me too' version of that. I don't want to dwell on personal issues. It has to be fun and frivolous. I could make it intelligent, emotional or be too clever, but I want to just be mad. The supposed personalities of these people are already out in the media. I want to show what I'm only privy to. You de-stress here.

I did this because it's a hobby, second nature and I thoroughly enjoy talking, apart from it adding to my brand value. But I am a film-maker first. I've only picked on affairs that have been spoken about in the media, quotes, comments, rivalries. I don't touch upon things that stars have told me in private — I respect their feelings and I don't want them to stretch themselves for me.

What happened with the Saif Ali Khan and Rosa episode?
Nothing really, I don't know why so much has been written about it. Saif is a dear friend and it was always meant to be Saif and Soha. It was a fab show. They were irreverent and looked great!

Everyone wants to know when they'll see Aamir and Salman Khan on your show.
I can only call them, but I'd never push them. Of course I tried last season. I respect and admire them both tremendously.

I love Aamir onscreen and Salman, I've worked with — he's great. I think when they're ready to come, they will. It's been my dream really to get the three brothers (Salman, Arbaaz, Sohail) together.

Is your closeness to Shah Rukh the reason why they haven't come on the show?
No, of course not! Aamir and Salman are too confident of themselves. Aamir is anyways lesser seen in the media — he may not be comfortable coming on the show.

So who is on your wish list?
I've talked to everybody I wanted. From last season, I loved the nostalgia from the Chintu and Neetu, Zeenat and Hema shows, while the Amit uncle and Abhishek and SRK and Kajol ones were special.

Are you going to interview Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor as well?
I'd love to. I've seen them as children — I am a decade older than them!

From last season, who were tough nuts to crack?
I was a little nervous of Sunny Deol because I hadn't researched him before and didn't know him too well. But he came with Bobby and that episode turned out sweet.

It seemed difficult to get Sanjay Dutt to open up too.
This time, he's come with Priya and talked a lot. People forget that there are many people I've not worked with, but known from childhood and share a close equation with. Like Tabu, we share a great bond.

Why haven't you asked Ram Gopal Varma yet?
I would love to get Ramu — that's a dream episode. I don't know if I can pick up the phone and call him, but I hope he reads this. Please call me Ramu — I'd like you to come on Koffee and do a one-on-one. In fact, I'd do a solo interview!

This, after all the back and forth between you two?
I think that's just been long drawn out. We met at the Guru preview recently and we were fine. It's all very tongue-in-cheek between us. We're enjoying it. In fact he's been silent for a while now. Come on, talk Ramu, give your quotes!

I think his films are fabulous and he may not regard my films, but he regards my success. There aren't any other controversies around me; that's why this one is given so much importance.

Akshay Kumar says that we should ask Yash Chopra and you why you never consider him.
I admire Akshay because he's fought to survive. He's a super actor and I'd love to work with him. I really believe he's hung in there.

Beyond everything, I'd like to have him and Tina (Twinkle) on my show — Tina is a childhood friend. We played at birthday parties together. I think there'd be fun stories and an easy vibe.

Have you thought of getting stars with their children?
I wouldn't encourage that. They're already in the limelight and their parents have enough to deal with.

Will you get Abhishek and Aishwarya?
Abhishek is family. The combination is striking, but I don't want to just sensationalise it for the show. Let's see. He's on board and yet to shoot for me. He's super fun — the one with him and Preity were among the highest rated Koffee shows.

What were the others?
I'm not too sure, but I remember the first Shah Rukh and Kajol one and the Rani and Kareena one. This time, I'm getting Kajol and Rani with Shah Rukh.

Do you write on the cue cards yourself?
It's mostly Niranjan (Iyengar's) research. They're in a chatty style and I make my mental notes from them and stick to the format. It works because I don't always refer to them — I listen as well and catch vibes.

You're shooting your show and doing the clothes for Shah Rukh for KBC. How do you manage everything?
Yeah, 12 episodes in 12 days, prepping, getting the clothes on my show right — each episode is like a film! What can I say? It's all in place; I'm good at multi-tasking.

You have vox pop with stars on their sexiness quotient etc. Do they ever complain to you once it's aired?
They can't even if they're unhappy; I don't give the ratings! But I just wish that people would develop a sense of humour. When someone says

Finally, would you get Rakhi Sawant on your show?
I'm waiting for that girl to get out of the house so I can give her a hug. I hope Rakhi wins; my mom and I are huge fans. She's a wonderful soul and all heart. I think people were laughing at her first, but they see her now as vulnerable, innocent and forthright. I admire how she just speaks her mind without caring. I'd do a solo episode on her as well!