All is well between Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. Scotching rumours of a 'cooling off' or even a 'rift' in one of the most definitive friendships in the film industry, Karan Johar revealed to Mirror that he is at the moment in London with SRK's family. "I am here to spend time with Aryan and Gauri. Shah Rukh, Gauri and I are a unit that has evolved beyond the realms of the film fraternity," said the filmmaker, adding, "Nothing, or no one can ever come between us." The filmmaker was responding to our questions about his 'changing equations' with the Shah Rukh Khan - both perceived and real.
A lot has happened since he and SRK came together for My Name Is Khan in 2010 - a storm behind the high walls of Mannat, swirling rumours of tensions between old friends, a few public spats and a very diplomatic KJo reaching out to Salman Khan, giving credence to the theory that his next film in all probability will star this Khan and not his old favourite.
In other words, there has been a strong belief that the casting would be a telling commentary on the status of his friendship with SRK. KJo is far from amused. "Every morning I wake up to reports about my film by people who seem to know more about it than I do," he says, adding, "The truth is, I am in the midst of structuring two ideas simultaneously."
The first, as he had said in an interview to this newspaper earlier, is based on an idea first floated by his father. "It is a love saga, mounted on a very, very large canvas for which my father had done extensive research in Lahore," says he. "It is the most special story I have ever conceived and the screenplay is being finalised."
Though KJo says it needs two sets of "established and able" actors, he insists, he has not approached anyone "officially or otherwise" yet. "The second is a husband-wife drama with strong leading parts", he says. "It will take two months for both the screenplays to be ready and it is only then I will start making my calls. It would be foolish to assume I would take any decision but professionally. I am here to sell a filmmaker's dream and will only cast stars who suit the parts," he adds emphatically.
Reflecting briefly on his long and eventful association with SRK and his banner, which has played an important part in defining Hindi cinema of the last two decades, Karan says he owes his career to his friend. "Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Shah Rukh are the two reasons I am in the industry. Shah Rukh is like my older brother, and I am bound to him for emotional, spiritual and professional reasons." Does that mean SRK could well find a pride of place in his upcoming films? Quite expectedly, Karan showers generous praises on his friend, "Like wine, he keeps getting better with age.
From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to MNIK or even Jab Tak… he has grown in strength, stature," he says and then pauses before adding, "The intensity and maturity with which he performed his role of a lover and solider in Jab Tak … speaks of a man who has seen life. I always tell him, his off-screen persona makes him a bigger star than his on-screen presence. It would be exciting for any filmmaker to work with him now." |
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