I’m not as ballsy as RGV - Karan Johar

It took a while to woo Karan Johar into giving an interview, especially since he's been preoccupied with the post production of his new magnum opus - 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.' But catch him we did and dived straight to the one question on everyone's mind these days: Will he ever make a film without Shah Rukh Khan?

"I would never want to go on a film set where he's not there. Right now, I can't think about it and I hope I don't have to. He's a part of me and he gives me a lot of strength, emotionally and professionally," is his prompt reply.

Too mushy: The filmmaker is often accused by his peers for making candy-floss films. Karan shrugs it off with, "I don't understand why every one is so keen on judging me so soon. It used to affect me earlier. But really, I make films I believe in."

"I don't run down people who make so-called 'intellectual' films. I liked 'Lagaan', 'Rang de Basanti', 'Satya', but I also know that I am not capable of making these kinds of films. So I choose not to even attempt them. If that makes me limited, then maybe I am. Today, my strength is emotional drama. I've never claimed to be an all-round filmmaker."

Playing safe: But Ram Gopal Varma thinks filmmakers like him take a lot of risks as they churn out love stories over and over again. "I don't agree with him at all. What's the risk in making a family film? I think I play the safest. I'm not as ballsy as Ramu.

That's why some of his films work and some of them don't. But that's not to say what I do is easy. I know that I lack courage to do a variety of films. But I am getting better. I am dealing with topics that I might have not thought of earlier," he says.

Bolder issues: Like adultery in 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'? For the first time during the interview Karan becomes cagey, "I am not ready to divulge the story as yet. But all I can say is that I have become a bit bolder now." Does that mean he's stopped getting panic attacks like he did during the making of 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham'? He laughs and says, "I still do, but I have grown up enough not to faint on the sets anymore."

Let bygones be: We veer the topic to his friend-turned-foe, Nikhil Advani, whose film 'Salaam-e-Ishq' will be pitted against 'KANK'. "I am sure Nikhil's film will be a great one because he is good at his work. He's been with me since 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' days and he's been a great support. If he wanted to walk out and work with another filmmaker, I cannot hold it against him."

So, does that mean he still misses Nikhil? "I do, I do. I know that he's hurt me, my mother and my father but maybe in the process he was hurt too. I cannot tie anybody down. They are not my children."

Coffee with Salman: As far as the second season of his highly popular show — 'Koffee with Karan' is concerned, the filmmaker says he would love to have Salman Khan as his guest. "Anybody who knows Salman will tell you that he is a sensitive and funny man. I want to show that part of him to the world. I have been requesting him, but he refuses to come on the show."
s_shubha@dnaindia.net

Source- DNA,India