"BE IT IF ONE IS INVOLVED IN A STRAIGHT OR A GAY RELATIONSHIP, IT'S ALL LOVE
With his last production offering, Dostana, Karan Johar speaks out about Abhishek's marriage, films & gay relationships
BY HARMEET VIRDI | MAR 11, 2009
Q. Your father's first film was Dostana in 1977, is this why you decided to make the film with the same title? KJ: For a long time, we had no title for Tarun Mansukhani's brilliant script. It?s funny, sassy and hilarious. And it?s also about friendship between these two guys played by Abhishek and John. So it happened that Abhi (Abhishek Bachchan), Tarun (the director) and me were sitting in my office, and right opposite to my office there are collage of posters of all Dharma Productions films starting from what my father had produced. As we were brainstroming on the titles I was mentioning past titles like 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham', Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and I then happened to mention 'Dostana'. Instantly it clicked, with all three of us deciding that it goes very well with the subject of the film, so three months into filming the film we had the title of the movie. So, I don't know why it took us so long to hit on the right title.
For 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' I had to ask Aroona Irani to lend me the title because she starred in the song sung by Kishore Kumar in the movie 'Chalte Chalte'. She sweetly gave me the title in exchange for a kiss. For 'Dostana', I had to kiss nobody except my father's memory.
Q. Why did you choose not to direct this film? KJ: In general I have chosen not to direct many films and am working to be a producer and launch directorial energy and talent and make Dharma Productions a larger production house. So there will be films, lots of films that I?ll not be directing but will be producing them instead. I love everything about cinema and the feeling I got by just seeing the promos, I cried and I hope everyone really enjoyed the film. Tarun the director of 'Dostana' has been like my child, he was with me from day one as an assistant director on 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. Ten years later he has directed his own film and I'm watching his promo in London and it feels great. I want to produce many more films some may be good some may not be good but I want to infuse that directorial talent into the industry and into the fraternity.
Q. Do you find it your responsibility to generate new talent and new generations of filmmakers? KJ: I think some of us are in a position to in some ways although in the past I have been accused of "oh you don't work with new talent". However many of my films under my production house had introduced new directors in the fraternity like Nikhil Advani directed 'Kal Ho Na Ho', Soham directed 'Kaal' and 'Dostana' has been directed by Tarun. Furthermore I have a host of more new directors who?ll be working under Dharma Productions. So I think launching that new energy is all about progression of cinema.
Q. This is the second time you have casted Abhishek Bachchan for your film, the first time being 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'. Will Abhishek Bachchan now be a permanent feature in your films? KJ: My life started at his birthday party, AB is like a baby brother, he is like a kid even now and that a bully to me too. Shah Rukh, Rani and Preity used to get a bit surprised with the way Abhishek was, on the sets of KANK. He would pull my mic and push me around; he used to bully me as a child, even though he is only four years younger than me. He is the only one who can bully me. We just have a different kind of rapport, we go way back, and I grew up in the Bachchan household. Even when he got married it all very overwhelming to see him married, all grown up. It was a special day for us.
Q. Your film seems to be majorly inspired by the lifestyles of Asians living abroad away from their parent?s origin of birthplace. Why that so? KJ:I make films for Asians anywhere in the world and for me its just geography as to where they are. I don't know why back in India when the media ask me; they talk about NRI's as if they are a community far apart. You all are far more Indian, far more Asian than most of us back home, far more rooted to the culture from most of us back at that end. I'm just very proud to make films for anyone be it if they're in New Delhi or New York. Its just geography as to where they are.
Q. Would you ever consider making a period film with a historical context, like a 'Jodhaa Akbar'? KJ: I actually was all set to make a period film before called 'Kalaank' before my father passed away. It was based around the partition during 1946 to 1948. I decided to stop it as I was too emotionally attached with the film. My father was a major part of the research with me for the film, and if at that time given if I went ahead to make the film, my emotions would have come in the way, as it was a combined effort of my father and I. He?d even gone to Lahore to research for the film, but I just couldn't do it. But I will make this film right after 'My Name is Khan' as it has such a beautiful story. I will want to make it definitely. Q. Are you still going to be continuing with 'Koffee With Karan'? KJ: Not for a while. Some might forget that I actually make movies and think am a talk show host. I enjoy 'Koffee with Karan', it was a hobby; I completed two series and it was really fantastic. I'll try and get back into it only after 'My Name is Khan'. I'd like to infuse all my energy into the film. Maybe after a year and a half.
Q. Are you endorsing gay relationships/homosexaulity in 'Dostana'? KJ: I made 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' and people may say I'm endorsing infidelity. But I am not. These are today's issues and I am simply making a film on the topic. Be it if one is involved in a straight relationship or gay relationship, it's all love at the end of the day.
