'Chak De! is the most patriotic film' KJo

Karan Johar always has a tinge of patriotic flavour in his films, be it in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

We quiz the filmmaker on his love for India, SRK and why Chak De! India has left a big impression on his heart.

So Chak De! India is the most patriotic film you've ever seen?
The strength of Chak De! is that it doesn't resort to jingoism. It's about sports and yet makes you want to stand up and clap for your country. It's about the spirit and perception of women.

What emotion did it arouse in you?
When I watched it, I felt so proud to be an Indian. The last time I went crazy about a patriotic film was Lagaan.

As a filmmaker, I can say that Shah Rukh has never performed as well in any of my films as he has done in Chak De! It's his finest performance yet. Chak De! is truly the finest film of the decade.

What does freedom mean to you?
To me, freedom has always meant the ability to express oneself without restrictions or boundaries.

Who is the most free-spirited person you know?
Kajol. She is a true free spirit. She says and does whatever she wants. That's why I admire her so much.

Who instilled the spirit of patriotism in you?
My father, Yash Johar, and the school where I studied —Green Lawns. My earliest memory of Independence Day is putting the national flag on our mantle at home and then going to school for flag hoisting.

My father, who was born in 1929, played an active part in the country's freedom struggle. He used to tell me about how he would cycle down the streets of Delhi delivering letters during the Partition.

Tell us something more about your father.
Dad was from Lahore, but migrated to Delhi before Partition. He was a true patriot.

A year before he passed away, he went to Lahore to research stuff for my period film (which was shelved) based on the freedom struggle.