Man, I'm getting old and hating it: Karan

Karan Johar Speaks To Subhash K Jha

So how does it feel ….Your life is going great guns.
More like 'grey' guns, considering how much hair dye I've to use. I woke up on my birthday and dyed my hair, feeling very old. It's all L'Oreal because I'm worth it. Me and Ash are both worth it in different ways.

The dye was a rude reminder that I'm inching towards my 40s. That's not something I'm happy about. I've a youth fixation. I want to be forever young. Now unfortunately I'll have to be wannabe young. It's vanity unfair, I tell you.

Lately you've been doing a lot of other things besides making film.
I know. It's all part of the growing -up process. I enjoy doing it all. Making films is my only real passion. Everything else that I do is derived from that passion. Hosting a talk show or endorsing a product are hobbies, just like other people play tennis or dance at a discotheque.

I host shows. I enjoy photo sessions. As for addressing global forums, that again comes from my love for cinema.If I didn't make amovie I'd die. In making a movie you become God. You're the master of your world. You create, and you destroy.

I'm growing with every film. And by acknowledging filmmakers who are better than me I'm helping myself to grow. It's very stupid to not acknowledge brilliance.

You're openly appreciative of your colleagues' works.
Yes, I can be good as a filmmaker only if I acknowledge brilliance in others. That's the only way to grow as an artiste. I never praise unless I mean it. Yes, in my early years I did shower empty praise on undeserving filmmakers. That's because I wanted to be Mr Popular.

Today I don't feel I have to do that. But I think it's very important to recognize brilliance in others. My father always said you've to be around people who are better than you. I feel there's a certain negativity in the film fraternity. We all talk about how bad things are in the industry.

But then some of us get upset when someone makes a brilliant film. That's wrong. We must celebrate films like Black, Satya, Rang De Basanti and Lage Raho…Munnabhai. Personally I felt rejuvenated after watching these films.

The one film that you wish you had made?
Lage Raho…Munnabhai undoubtedly. It was poignant, entertaining and immensely humane. I loved the scripting of it. I miss good writers. We really lack writing talent in the film industry.

I believe you're planning to introduce new talent into the industry?
I am nurturing new talent. Tarun Mansukhani, Siddharth Malhotra are two young directors who are directing films for me. I'm constantly reading scripts and looking at young filmmakers who can cover genres that maybe I can't in my films.

I've been sitting with the Rang De Basanti writer Renzil D'Silva. I'm developing a script with him. Then Shibani Bhatija who wrote Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. She's writing the next film that I'm directing.

What else?
I'm producing an animation film. Everyone is conjecturing that it'll be an animation version of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. But I wouldn't want to comment. Don't want a good idea to get out. We operate in a herd mentality. The process of animation takes sixteen months.

So we've a long way to go. Let's see. I'm very happy with what my father (producer Yash Johar) did. I'd like our Dharma Productions to be a household name. That was his dream, Yes he did go through rough times as a producer.

But I'd rather remember his smile after I directed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He may not have had successful films for a while. But he had something better. He had friends in the industry. That goodwill was far more valuable than any hits.

What are you directing next?
It should start early next year. It's a story that needs to be told. I'm developing the script with Shibani Bhatija. It's a film with a conscience.

You're talked-about for your marketing skills.
I don't sit and plan to market myself. You always get what you deserve.Whether it's talk shows or walking the ramp…I don't do these things for effect. We're in an era of tremendous media coverage. And if I'm getting some of it I'm happy to receive it. God has his plans. You just go by them.

What tv plans for yourself?
I'm part of creative team at NDTV's entertainment channel. Samir Nair is efficiently at the helm of things. I'm enjoying the process. I enjoy doing television. With cinema you touch lives. With television you walk into lives. I've done it all, except act.

You've acted also!
Yeah but I haven't been good at it.If I'm offered a good film I might do a lead role.

You recent did a photo shoot for L'Officiel..
Yes. I had shot New York from behind the camera. Now I was suddenly in front of the camera in NY. It was freezing cold and I was freezing my butt off. Suddenly I felt very sympathetic towards actors who have to do this day in and day out. I rang up Rani and told her now I knew how it must feel to shoot in NY in a chiffon sari.

Your closing thoughts on turning 35 this year.
Well…I'd like to believe life begins in the 30s. Most of my childhood dreams have fallen into place. But I want to re-invent my old dreams and create new ones. My dreams are of a colossus proportion. I just want the film fraternity to be proud of the movies I make.