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It is easier to have an affair in New York," declared filmmaker
Karan Johar on a balmy Sunday morning in Toronto. "The chances of
your spouse, family or friends coming to know of it immediately are
far less remote than in many big cities in India."
Johar admitted, in responding to a question at the press conference
for Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna at the Toronto International Film
Festival, that he could have set the film anywhere in the world
including New Delhi or Mumbai. But setting it in New York made the
story of adultery more convincing.
"In Mumbai or Delhi, everyone comes to know the moment you have an
affair," he explained.
Originally, he wanted to shoot the film in London but the production
ran into logistic problems. "We had made Kal Ho Naa Ho in New York
and it made a lot of sense to shoot this film in and around New York
too," he said.
Karan Johar was addressing the press conference at the Sutton Hotel,
a few hours before the film had a gala red carpet reception at the
TIFF, followed by a seminar on Making Of A Bollywood Blockbuster.
He was flanked by Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
The conference started promptly at 9.30 am and got over 45 minutes
later as per the schedule. But there were just about 20 journalists,
mostly from the India media -- even the Toronto Star sent an Indian
reporter.
At the press screening on Thursday, KANK drew about 20 reporters and
industry participants while in the theatre next door, the Chinese
film My Post-Modern Aunt, drew over 100 people.
Shah Rukh seemed quite disappointed there were just one or two
mainstream publications present at the press conference. He was
heard asking the organisers why the journalists hadn't turned up.
By the time KANK had its gala in Toronto, it had grossed about $3.2
million in North America and $4.1 million in the United Kingdom. In
India, too, the film is doing very good business, though there are
reports that many people were not comfortable with the subject of
extramarital relationships.
And Johar had to address that question once again, especially when
the moderator at the conference called him the newly minted marriage
counselor.
The film has opened Pandora's box, Johar said. People have started
discussing the moral issues in the film with the same fervency they
discuss politics, he added. "In the case of my previous films, it
was like -- We liked it, great film, great fun, or occasionally, I
just hated it. But in the case of KANK, there were not just sharp
opinions. People actually debate the issues raised in the film. It
is not easy for everyone to grasp the conflicts and dilemmas.
Marriage is a sacred institution in India and many people do not
believe that it can be contentious too."
As for the physical nature of the film, Johar said given the fact
that it dealt with sex and adultery there had to be more sensuality
and sexuality to it than his previous films. "But we could not
alienate the older and more traditional audiences," he said. "We had
to be very careful how we showed passion in the film."
He remembered that Yash Chopra's Silsila also dealt with infidelity
and extra-marital affairs, and that film starring Amitabh Bachchan,
Rekha, Jaya Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar raised quite a bit of
controversy when it was released in 1981.
Many people in India expect their stars to be exemplary, he said,
and that is the reason why some of them are upset that actors in
KANK are playing adulterers.
An elderly gentleman sitting next to me quickly scribbled on his
notepad: Wasn't Silsila inspired by the real life story in Amitabh's
life? I am going to ask the question.
But he did not get an opportunity to ask the question.
Meanwhile, another reporter had asked Shah Rukh if he would have
followed the example of his character in KANK if he had an affair in
real life?
"Remember I am a Muslim," Shah Rukh quipped, laughing gently.
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