New Delhi
Film maker Mr Karan Johar says that he can push the envelope in his films but he cannot tear it because of the upbringing. To broach taboos within the mainstream cinema format, one has to do it with sensitivity, he says.
“One has to care enough about the issue and also its communication,” he said in a conversation with Ms Avarna Jain, Chairperson Editorial Board, Hello! Magazine India and Vice Chairperson, Saregama at AIMA’s National Leadership Conclave.
Mr Johar is the recipient of this year’s AIMA Managing India Award for Director of the Year for his film ‘Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani’.
Mr Johar said that he has learned over time and he would not do certain things anymore, such as item song, which objectify women. He also pointed to the portrayal of man chasing woman as romance, which is actually stalking. “I did not know better. My EQ has replaced GQ,” he said.
Regarding the impact of cinema on the society, Mr Johar said that while cinema has soft power, it takes a lot of cinema to drive home a point. He pointed out that it has taken many films made over the past decade to hit home the point of women’s empowerment. However, he conceded that there are still films being made that continue to be harmful to the society.
Mr Johar said that it is the moral fibre of a film that is the key to its values and not its genre. He emphasized that the intent of narrative and the character have to be honest though there can be many points of view. “I look at the repercussion first and the written word later,” he said.
Talking about his career as a director, he said that he is not happy with the fact that he has directed only seven films, excluding three short stories, in his 25-year career. He said that he is committed to making seven films in the next decade, though he will be happy even if he can turn out four films.
On him leadership mantra, Mr Johar said that his only two requirements are delegation and trust. “Without trust delegating is counterproductive,” he said.
Regarding having a finger on the pulse of the GenZ, Mr Johar said that his office has a couch and not a table and young people can tell him what they think and like and he uses that as a resource to tell stories. “Accessibility, affability and amiability can get you anywhere,” he said.
On receiving both critical and mass acclaim for his latest film ‘Rocky and Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, Mr Johar said that he had wondered whether both were possible for the same film. He said that all film makers crave critics’ stars and that is why film ads carry star ratings given by reviews.
The session was live streamed on AIMA’s social media channels.
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