KARAN JOHAR ON POST K3G
Abhishek Scenes Will Be In DVD

Now that Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has become a superhit in India and the most successful movie to ever be screened in the UK, director Karan Johar has proved himself as one of he most successful new directors in Bollywood today.

Even now he is constantly receiving compliments about Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but its now time to look at the future and his next project, in which he will produce the movie rather than direct.

In an exclusive interview with Radio Sargam's Robeel Haq, on behalf of Cineworld Cinemas, he spills the beans on what fans can expect…

Congratulations on the award winning success of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. It's now the most successful Bollywood movie that the UK has ever witnessed. How does that feel?
"It feels amazing. Actually I already had the UK record with my first movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai which was great in itself, but now that we have beaten that with K3G, it feels fantastic."

Why do you think your films have such enormous appeal in the UK?
"I think they have universal appeal. I get my inspiration for films like K3G from life and I hope that anyone who has been party to family life will be able to relate to the characters and the story. It doesn't matter whether they live in the UK or India or anywhere else in the world for that matter. I think that's why the film is doing so well back home in India too."

How do you see the future of Bollywood films in the UK?
"I think last year was fantastic, with films such as Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Asoka, K3G and also Monsoon Wedding. They have all done very well in the UK and that's so encouraging. I think the next step is to attract a wider audience to our films. Not just the NRI [Non resident Indian] audience but people who have never watched Indian films before. That's what we should hope to do in the future."

You have probably been asked this a million times already, but how was it like handling six of the biggest Bollywood stars around in one movie?
"The thing is that I didn't feel like I was working with six of the biggest stars around in the industry. They are such professionals that not once during the making of the film did they make me feel like I was working with such big names. It was more like working with a family. Besides I didn't sign them because they are huge stars but because they are excellent artists and they were perfect for their roles."

Can you tell us about this recent fight with Jatin Lalit, who were the music directors of both Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and K3G?
"It's not something that I really want to talk about. I was surprised to hear that they were giving interviews which were not very respectful towards me and that's about it really. I cannot imagine that I will be working with them again in the future so it doesn't really matter now anyway."

We hear that there was a short scene in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham that featured Abhishek Bachchan, which was edited out. Will the audience ever get to watch that scene?
"Yes. Some reports suggested that we would add it into the film at a latter date but in fact we are going to include it in the DVD of K3G. So everyone who wants to watch that scene can look out for when the DVD releases."

Even though you have only directed two films, you have still worked with many of the top stars around. Is there anyone left that you would still like to work with?
"That's a tough question because I have worked with so many great people already. However if I was to pick one person, then I would say that I would like to work with Aamir Khan."

Have you started planning your next movie now?
"Actually, I am not going to direct our next movie. Nikhil Advani, who was my associate director in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and K3G will direct the film. He did a great job in those films and now he deserves to make his own movie. It's the early stages yet though, but I can say that it will be a thriller and Shah Rukh Khan will head the cast of the film. I will be writing the screenplay."

So you are not planning your own follow up to Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham yet?
"(laughs) No! At the moment I can just relaxing and have not even thought about my next film. It's time to rest for a while."

RADIO SARGAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK CINEWORLD CINEMAS (http://www.cineworld.co.uk) FOR ALLOWING US TO PUT THIS INTERVIEW ONLINE.