Karan Johar Fan Club! ---- Part 1! - Page 4

Shah Rukh in and as KHAN in Karan Johar's terrorism film

Jenny: You have been giving us hot news about Krrish 3 and Don 3, what about Karan Johar's next big film, do you have any news on that?

Tony: Indeed I have, and I open this edition of Ask Tony with hot news about it. Karan Johar is busy working on Koffee With Karan, but he has been on a secret hush-hush mission to the States. Now one would think why is he in the USA? The reason is that he is meeting world leaders and ambassadors for a film on terrorism. Yes, I said it. Terrorism is the subject of Karan Johar's next big directorial venture. It is a sensitive and topical global issue that requires a lot of research. "Unlike my other films, my next directorial venture goes into an area that I need to get completely right before going on the floors. I'm therefore in the US for three weeks meeting people from various religious, social and humanitarian organisations. None of my films so far have required me to go much beyond my imagination," says Karan. He says it's too early to elaborate on his project. "But it raises issues that concern us in an immediate way. We cannot turn away from them, because they stare into our faces and conscience every morning from the newspapers," says Karan.

All he is ready to divulge now is that it will have Shah Rukh Khan in it for sure. But not only that, the film itself will be titled 'Khan'. Karan Johar will keep the letter K, as he has for his last three films, and this time around it will be named after the star himself. No other actors have yet been cast, but insiders say that Karan has a script, and is doing the final touches to it.

One final hot news about the film, it will have no songs. This will be a first for Karan Johar, as his films rely on the popularity of its music, and sometimes the music tends to be better than the films themselves. 'Khan' will have soundtrack, similar to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, but no songs as per normal in Bollywood. As a matter of fact, Karan was inspired by Bhansali, "You could say that," says Karan. "I've always admired Sanjay's work and made no bones about it. To go song-less in my next directorial venture is a decision dictated more by the theme than by any extraneous forces. I can't see songs breaking into my next film's narrative. But it isn't as if there will be no songs! Though no one will sing, there will definitely be music and songs in the background." Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are favourites to pen the score again.

On when he will make an official announcement, Karan says "I will soon announce my next film. I have not done it because I am so tied up with my new season of 'Koffee With Karan'."

Karan has not revealed the story to anyone, but I can reveal a little about it. 'Khan' will see Shah Rukh Khan play a world renowned peace activist, who is kidnapped by 'Islamic' terrorists, and has to negotiate his own way out. The difference in this story is that 'Khan' will be more affectionate towards his kidnappers, and once out of captive, begins to work for the goal they are trying to achieve. He reaches his goal and makes peace where no one thought was possible. The film's first part will be similar to Tom Cruise's epic 'The Last Samurai'. However, the second part will be totally inventive and fresh. Karan hopes to send out a global message to 'terrorists' and world leaders through this film. The film could release as early as Diwali 2008.

http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archives/2004/shah-rukh-in- and-as-khan-in-karan-johars-terrorism-film.html

K Jo's Next Without Song!

[6 Feb 2007>

A Karan Johar film and that too without song and dance sequences! Yes, the famous director has announced that his next directorial venture will be without song and the film is scheduled to be shot at the end of the year. As Karan confirms, ' To go songless in my next venture is a decision dictated more by the theme than by any extraneous forces. I can not see breaking into my next film's narrative. But it is not as if there will be no songs! Though no one will sing, there will definitely be music and songs in the background.'

This is a quite dramatic shift in a filmmaker's stand who once thought that song and dance sequences were integral part of the bollywood and can not be removed from the film. He thought that these were the qualities which made Indian cinema unique in the world arena. And now perhaps taking a leaf out of Sanjay Bhansali's work, he is ready to leap in the dark. As was done by Sanjay Bhansali after the making of ' Devdas'. ' Black' was Sanjay's next after that super hit out and out commercial film.

http://magnamags.com/magna_stardust/node/748

Coffee, Cakes and Karan!

Yashraj Studio was filled with the aroma of hot coffee and cakes. It set the tone of the press conference for Koffee with Karan, held this evening to announce the return of the popular chat show's second season.

Filmmaker-cum-chat show host Karan Johar along with Star Channel's CEO Sameer Nair spoke to the press about the new season of the show. Karan was as usual ready with his quick answers with his tongue-in-cheek humour, "Since Mallika Sherawat was so present in the first season of the show, (everyone had spoken about her), I have her on the show with Sanjay Bhansali".

When asked if Abhishek and Aishwarya the most-talked about couple would come on his show, "They are too talked about so we will not talk about them." All his celebrity friends like Kajol, Rani, Shah Rukh Khan. Hrithik, Kareena, Shahid, Karisma and a host of stars will come to have coffee with Karan.

The show will be telecast from 11 February at 9 PM on STAR One and STAR World.

Chandrika Bhattacharya
Friday, 19 January, 2007

Koffee returns with Karan!
what's common between best buddies Karan and Shahrukh, besides the fact that both will soon be seen as hosts on the small screen. Well, we think both have the gift of the gab and good PR skills to keep an audience rolling in abundance.

At a packed media conference for the launch of Koffee with Karan, at Yashraj studios in suburban Mumbai, Karan- an ace director, designer, producer and a

frustrated actor(as he calls himself) was seen in his element as gave us a sneak peek into his ultra popular chat show. This time around, the show which will go on air on 11 Feb will be seen on Star World and Star One as well.

Koffee, retains the original essence but the differentiating factor is probably a different set and a rather interesting line up of Bollywood celebs. On a rather lighter note, a dapper looking Karan says, "I am over worked and under payed, so I decided to host a talk show. On a serious note the show has gives me an opportunity to do something that I love to do; which is talk to my friends. Koffee with Karan, is all about really getting my Bollywood friends talk about themselves in front of the camera."

He further says, "So far I've had a wonderful journey and we will stick to the chatty, conversational style of the show," points an extremely witty Karan who looked pretty much in shape after shedding four kilos post his film Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.

Karan is readying himself to do the balancing act with hosting the show, involving himself in the creative team of NDTV's new entertainment channel, designing clothes(for his favourite King Khan) besides ideating his new film as well.

Here's a quick rapid fire round with the man himself.

How different will be the second season of the chat show?

The rapid fire round is intact and needless to say, it will be much more rapid with even more fire in it. The coffee hamper will be bigger and better with much more goodies in it. We will have interesting combinations of people in the show from John and Bipasha, Hemaji and Jayaji to international combinations like Tabu and Mira Nair to Mallika Sherawat and Sanjay Leela Bhansali (besides the opening show with favourites Kajol, Shahrukh and Rani). Its definitely double whammy as we have the show on two channels which means more eyeballs.

So your good friend Shahrukh and you come together on television around the same time?

Yes, it is funny as we go to two different studios at the same time for two different shows. And he is the one who encouraged me to host this show.

So what makes you a good choice as a host for the chat show?

Frankly, the show is very casual, easy, candid, fun and stress free. It's almost like a lounge chat on flippant issues and the good thing is that I don't intrude on the privacy of my guests. On one level, it does work to my advantage that as friends, I know exactly what's going on in their minds. With some celebs it's a nostalgic trip, since I've grown up watching their films since childhood.

How do you manage multitasking and do you emphathise with journalists now?

I've wanted to be a critic, an actor, a film maker and a designer and today I do all of it. We all love the media and its fashionable for people to hate journalists. But, in fact, I can now fully understand the job of a journalist. Though, I don't try to probe too much

So are Aishwarya and Junior B scheduled to be on your show as they are much in the news?

They are very much in the news and that's why its proving to be very difficult to get them.

Will we see Ekta Kapoor on your show?

Definitely Ekta is a good friend and I've known her since childhood. She's a Gemini and we are both similar. I am surely going to have her on my show.

But with whom?

That I can't say. You have to wait and watch.

Who else will be on your wish list for the show?

I would love to have Sooraj Bharjatya, Ram Gopal Verma.

If Koffee with Karan is just chatting with friends, don't you have friends from other walks of life?

Well I can never make thrillers, horror films so I stick to my genre. Similarly, I would rather stick to people I am comfortable with.

And lastly, in real life.. you prefer to chat with friends over coffee or drinks with your friends?

Well, over coffee the conversations make sense and are more coherent but when it's other beverages the chat is stuttered and muttered. So, I prefer coffee over other beverages.

Black' koffee with Mallika Sanjay Leela Bhansali puts Mallika at ease while shooting for Karan's show by assuring her that he loves having fun, and advises her to get off the high horse

Subhash K Jha

Besides Mani Ratnam's Guru, if one has to find a common link between Aishwarya Rai and Mallika Sherawat, it would have to be Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

In last season's Koffee with Karan, Sanjay appeared with Aishwarya.

This season he'll be seen with Mallika Sherawat. The surprise pairing happened on Thursday evening when the enterprising Karan shot an episode of Koffee… with Bhansali and Sherawat.

Says a member of the crew, "At first, the two were wary of each other and rightly so. After all, what could there be in common between them? Luckily, Karan's natural affability soon put them at ease. Mallika was obviously awestruck and nervous. Sanjay put her at ease by telling her he was a far cry from his sober, serious image and that he loved having fun."

Once the camera rolled, the threesome had a ball. Repartees flew fast and furious.

"Sanjay surprised Mallika by telling her that he found her one of the most promising new discoveries, though she needed to work on her voice modulation. He also gently reminded her to get back to earth, when she spoke about her superiority complex," says

Divulges the source, "At one point Mallika high-handedly declared that she would like the three Khans — Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman — to serve her meals. And when Karan cockily asked her which hero's butt she likes best, Mallika turned the topic to actresses and declared that she likes Bipasha's butt the best."

When asked about this extremely unorthodox tte--tte, Karan laughed, "Yes, we did shoot with Sanjay and Mallika. It was great fun. I don't only want to bring on unusual and exciting guests, I want to bring them on in unexpected combinations too. I believe opposites make sparks fly."

• At one point Mallika high-handedly declared that she would like the three Khans, Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman, to serve her meals

And now, the K-list

Karan Johar reveals who he will have koffee with, this time

Cheers! Karan Johar

All of Karan Johar's dream guests on the second season of his talk show have come through. Well, almost! Saif Ali Khan didn't show up with his lady love Rosa for the recording of Koffee With Karan. He instead brought sister Soha along. That suited the channel's purposes fine since the Khan siblings are becoming quite a high-profile public duo nowadays.

For the new season of his glam-gab, Karan has a huge line-up of stars waiting to claim our attention. According to sources, Karan has already shot eight major episodes of the chat fest. These include a directors' special, shot on January 16, which features Raj Kumar Hirani, Rakesh Roshan, Rakeysh Mehra and Kunal Kohli.

The directors' special also has a segment devoted to critics talking about the filmmakers. Another wow-fest is an episode featuring Karisma and Kareena Kapoor, with Shahid joining in, which called for a whole lot of in-house bantering and camaraderie. Says Karan, "It's too premature to comment on my guest list. But yes, the endeavour is to bring on the stars like never before. I don't want anyone to say that this season's Koffee With Karan looks like a repetition of the last season. Even when I bring on non-film folks I want to make sure my audience isn't robbed of its glamour quotient."

On January 16, Karan shot another exclusive one-on-one with Richard Gere. This is Gere's first celebrity interview on Indian television. Apparently he wished the tete-a-tete to be issue-based. Karan, however teased out some revealing moments in the super-star's life in his journey from hedonism to Buddhism.

For the latest episode he shot on January 17, Karan brought together Mira Nair and Tabu, who are Karan's "current favourites" after the two impressed him deeply in their current collaborative effort The Namesake.

And if you were waiting to see John and Bipasha together on television after their celebrity appearance on Big B's KBC, Karan is going to make your wish come true. The Bipasha-John episode apparently has the couple in a candid mood. Also in the cans is an episode featuring Hrithik Roshan with Priyanka Chopra.The last time Karan had got them on the show in different permutations.

The 'socialite special' of Koffee With Karan will feature Vijay Mallaya and Shobha De.

Guests At KJO's cafe

• Saif Ali Khan and Soha
• Raj Kumar Hirani, Rakesh Roshan, Rakeysh Mehra and Kunal Kohli
• Karisma, Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor
• Richard Gere
• Mira Nair and Tabu
• Bipasha Basu and John Abraham
• Hrithik Roshan with Priyanka Chopra
• Vijay Mallaya and Shobha De

Rani and Kajol to have coffee with Karan

Does this mean the two cousins are on talking terms again?

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

The buzz is that Karan Johar has roped in Rani Mukherji and Kajol for the first episode of his much talked-about show Koffee With Karan. Karan is planning to start shooting for the first episode from January. Kajol will be seen sharing screen space with Rani after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

A sources close to Karan reveals, "Karan wanted Rani and Kajol together for his first season, but they were not on talking terms, so his plan didn't materialise. Finally, Karan had to work out some other combinations to get them both." Now, it seems that Rani and Kajol have agreed to be on the show. "Karan wanted to start his second season with people he is most comfortable with. He started his career as a film maker with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and after nine years they will be sharing screen space together again," says our source.

Not just that, Karan will also get Shah Rukh Khan as a special guest in the show. SRK will be talking about his on-screen chemistry with both sisters.

After Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, magazines and glossies wrote about Kajol's rift with Rani. Although they are cousins, it was reported that Kajol treated Rani badly on the sets. "Karan wanted to clear the air and it took him a year to convince Kajol to come on the show. Although Kajol is very fond of Karan, she didn't want to do the show with Rani. But Karan's show is all about fun and spice. He wanted both of them to share screen time and chat like sisters," says our source.

Apparently, Karan is working on the rapid fire round which has always been the highlight of his show. The idea of getting SRK for his first episode came to his mind, when both the sisters agreed to be part of the show. "Shah Rukh shares an amazing chemistry with Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hat Hai, while he is brilliant with Rani in Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna. Karan had enough reasons to ask Shah Rukh," says our source.

When we contacted Rani's mother Krishna who is in Kolkata, she said, "Yes Rani will do the show for Karan, but I can't confirm about Kajol or Shah Rukh. You'll have to ask Rani about that." We tried to get in touch with Rani and Shah Rukh, but both of them were unavailable for comment.

http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mmpaper.aspx?page=article §id=30&contentid=20061215021822937463db1b2

Koffee with Karan to return in Feb

By Subhash K. Jha, IndiaFM
Thursday, December 14, 2006

Karan Johar's extremely popular chat show Koffee with Karan on Star is ready for a second innings. "I start shooting in January and I already have the guests lined up, of course. Who are they? Well there're only ten superstars followed by ten stars. So I can't vary the list from the first time. What I'm doing is to bring the stars in combination with sports-persons and politicians," reveals the chilled-out anchor.

Apparently Karan's wish-list of non-film celebrities on Koffee With Karan 2 will include a host of high-profile industrialists and sports-persons.

Says Karan, "We can't reveal names. But yes, they're names to reckon with. While the Q &A format remains unchanged I'll have to use a bit more hair dye, and the set by Sharmista Roy has changed. Yes, she has designed a completely new look for Koffee...Part 2. I hope to serve up a better brew this season....The coffee this time will be hopefully more steamy , heady and sexy.... Of course since I'm the host the quotient of sexiness is already very high," jokes the host with the most.

One major change that Star will introduce into the Koffee ... format is a live audience. Says a channel source, "Last time we felt the Karan's show would've surely benefited from the presence of an audience on the sets. After all, there's so much happening on the show."

The other exciting happening regarding Karan's talk show is that all the episodes from the first season will now be available on DVD. "Star felt there was a large audience wanting to see all the episodes repeatedly. We're releasing the DVD version of Koffee with Karan in January. It will first be out first in the UK and then in India." This is the first time that an Indian talk show on television will be available on the DVD format.

Is Karan looking forward to his return to television? "Oh absolutely! I love seeing myself on television. I love the thought of being watched by millions. As a child I was totally shunned by everyone. No one wanted to give this over-weight kid with a 42-inch waistline the time of the day. As a child I was Bridget Jones. Guess I'm making up for that now."

Size matters!

Karan Johar's coffee hamper promises to be 'bigger and better' this time...


While the format of Koffee with Karan 2 will remain the same, one thing that has definitely grown in stature this time, is the 'coffee hamper'.

That's a huge jump from last time's hamper which had cookies, coffee-beans and coffee powder, a coffee mug and a small coffee maker in it. Looks like Karan wasn't kidding when he said the coffee hamper is now "bigger and better".

Says a source in the channel, "Karan wanted the hamper to be really exclusive this time. He has chosen all its contents personally, right from the ipod to the cheese. He wants it to be a personal memento from him."


Goodies reloaded

So, for all the celebrities who had let out their closely-guarded secrets on the show the last time, only to discover its rather humble contents, this time the coffee hamper will contain:

• An iluv dvd player with i-pod station (7-inch screen)
• Frazer and Haws crystal and silver coffee mugs
• 15 piece assorted cookie box (specially made for the show by the Grand Hyatt)
• 18 piece handmade assorted chocolate box (specially made for the show by the Grand Hyatt)
• Granapadano Agriform cheese
• Grisbi cream cappuccino wafers
• Mocha Expresso sauce from stonewall kitchens
• Lavazza Expresso coffee blend, and last but not the least-
• Freshly baked cinnamon bread sticks!

Karan is back on TV with spicier combos

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Love him or hate him", screams the tagline of the show. Karan Johar is back this season with another exciting innings of his celebrity chat show Koffee With Karan starting February 11 at 9 pm on Star One and Star World. "No one brews coffee and conversation like Karan does. We were unsure about what Karan will come up with this season, since he is a producer, director, actor, designer an anchor, all rolled into one.

This time he has exciting topics with new people and new looks," says Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair. According to Karan, "Sameer and I have a great association. What started as a hobby for me turned out to become a popular show. It has increased my brand value and people are coming and watching my movies because of it. I have not changed anything with the show. This time, we have a hidden camera since that will make my friends more comfortable. The show continues to be about chatty and candid conversations, only the sets have been changed and it looks more like a Greenwich village that has been designed by Sharmista Chatterjee. The hamper has become bigger and I have grown two years older too."

The show continues to bring together interesting combinations of personalities. Family combinations like Sanjay Dutt with his sister Priya, Saif Ali Khan and sister Soha, love birds like John Abraham and Bipasha Basu, and Shahid and Kareena along with an appearance by sister Karisma will be on the show. Interesting combinations of personalities like Vijay Mallaya and Shobhaa De, and Mallika Sherawat with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

"Though Mallika and Sanjay have nothing in common, it was one of the most interesting episodes since Mallika was at her very best and was looking good too. She also gave most of her quotable quotes. I also have shot an episode with Richard Gere, but he is a solo guest since he had so much to say," says the filmmaker.

The opening show will have Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherji since Karan worked with them in his first film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. "What was more interesting is the fact that both Shah Rukh and I are hosting two different shows this season and driving off to two different studios at the same time," smiles Karan.

When asked how easy or difficult it was for him to ask questions since most of them are his friends, Karan replies, "It is difficult when the cameras are rolling and most of the times, I know the answers and still have to keep a straight face when I know that they are not telling the truth and at times, it's an eye-opener too. Like the episode with Raj Kumar Hirani. Some of his answers were eye-openers. I will also be having interesting episodes with television personalities like Ekta Kapoor, and am planning to rope in Sourav Ganguly as well since I met him recently."