RADIO SARGAM INTERVIEW: KARAN JOHAR (KAAL)

1) Wants to of it all : Director, designer, emcee and Producer – you are accused of becoming ‘Jack of all Trades and Master of…?
“Masters of all too, I hope. I’ve always been interested in doing all kinds of things, from designing clothes for Shah Rukh Khan to hosting award functions. These are parts of my personality I like to tap once in a while; it keeps my energies charged all the time. I’ve obviously most passionate about filmmaking, and for the rest of the things I’m doing, I’m taking baby steps now, soon I’ll walk, and then run.”

2) Too Interviening : Is Karan too involved in the projects he produces?
“Only as much involved as any ‘passionate’ producer should be. I’m making a conscious effort to take a break and leave the reins of Kaal to my director Soham. The film is his idea, story, script and direction, I’ve told Soham that he better make a good film, or else I will kick him. Just kidding! I’m scared of watching horror films; for all you know I may not even see my own film Ha! Ha!”

3) Switching Streams : From feel good to feel terrified, how was the transition…
“It was a scary thought at first. Frankly, horror is a genre I don’t even understand. I don’t belong to that world of cinema. I can’t even visualize myself writing a script like that, because such thoughts don’t come in my mind. When Soham narrated the script to me, I was terrified even hearing it. I even asked him – ‘What were you drinking when you wrote the film?” But I guess it’s important to deal with all forms of cinema as a producer.”

4) Bitter separation? : What about his bitter separation with Nikhil Advani?
“No sour feelings. It’s just that we both didn’t handle the situation to the best of our abilities. There was a lot of hurt and pain, leaving that aside I’m still proud of his ability as a filmmaker. I believe Nikhil is from my world of cinema. I know the next film he’s making will be awesome and I wish him all the luck for it.”

5) Too attached to SRK : Karan’s co-producer in Kaal – Shah Rukh Khan’s role is -
“Same as mine – a passionate producer. He’s playing the most important role – he’s always there with his love, spirit and energy. And he’s doing a dance number, too.”

6) Taking the plunge : For his own next directorial venture he is staying from his usual?
“My production company is identified with a certain kind of candy floss image, so I thought it was time to diversify, my next is emotionally from my world and yet it’s a departure from my usual. And no guesses…SRK is a part of my film.”

7) Can he do without SRK? : The industry wants to know if a Karan film without SRK in the lead would work
“Why is anybody keenly waiting to see what I will be doing next, why aren’t they doing what they should be doing. It’s almost like saying, ‘Look he’s good at the high jump, now let’s see if he can do the long jump as well.’ If I am winning gold in the high jump, why should I settle for a bronze elsewhere? I love Hindi cinema, I love all filmmakers around me, and if beats my imagination what anyone else’s problem with that should be?”

WRITTEN BY ROBEEL HAQ