Karan Johar: 'Takht' has a beautiful mix of stars and actors

Karan Johar: 'Takht' has a beautiful mix of stars and actors

Nayandeep Rakshit | Updated: Nov 10, 2018, 06:05 AM IST

Karan Johar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh

Karan Johar has managed a casting coup of sorts for his ambitious project, Takht. The historical drama, which goes on floors next August, stars Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Janhvi Kapoor. Ask the maverick filmmaker what appealed to him about the subject and he says, "I'm obsessed with the Mughal era. As a child, history was my favourite subject. I know many who would look at me with scornful eyes, but it's the truth. I love reading books and studying what historians had to say about the period. There's one segment in the entire dynasty that captured my attention and Takht is based on that. Karan is happy with the eclectic line-up of actors for the period venture. He says, "There were some challenges over the casting, but we overcame that. I'm thrilled with the ensemble that I have in place for Takht. It's my first with many of the cast members, besides Kareena and Alia. It has a beautiful mix of stars and actors.

Ranveer has great energy'

This is KJo's first association with Ranveer. He mentions, "Ranveer has great energy. Over a period of time, we have become the best of friends and we can share almost everything now. I'm excited to work with him because not only is he one of the finest actors that we have in this generation, but he also adds a mad, positive vibe to anything he does and I just love that.

Bebo is my favourite'

Takht also reunites the filmmaker with his best friend' Kareena, whom he had last directed in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). "I'm equally excited about working with Bebo after so long. She is my favourite. We're just a phone call away for each other. I can't think of anyone else for the character that Kareena plays in the historical. I'm sure the audience will feel the same when they watch the movie, he asserts.

Takht is my most ambitious film'

The multi-faceted personality calls this his most ambitious film.' He states that helming this period drama is a challenge for him as he hasn't written it. "This is the first time I haven't penned a movie that I'm directing. It's been written by Sumit Roy and Hussain Haidri has done the dialogues. That sense of detachment will make it exciting for me. Also, I have never felt more passionate about a single project than Takht. It makes me feel like I'm 20 again, he exclaims.