Ace director Karan Johar, who has been part of the Hindi film industry for a long time, says that although the industry has become disciplined and structured, the love and compassion that once used to keep the industry together has disappeared.
Son of late producer Yash Johar, Karan is the man behind films such as Dostana, Agneepath and Hum. He is the founder of Dharma Productions, one of the most prolific film-making banners in Bollywood.
“I hear stories of the yesteryear’s magic. One misses the love and compassion that film people had for each other even when they were making different films. As an industry, we have stopped belonging to each other,” Johar told IANS in an interview.
Johar has been an active member of the Hindi film industry since 1995. He recently worked with three directors — Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Dibakar Banerjee — to create Bombay Talkies, a bouquet of four short films, an ode to 100 years of the Indian cinema. While working with them, the 40-year-old enjoyed a sense of belonging. “I felt that we belonged together. I felt a synergy and that was elevating,” he said.
Known for focusing on family bonding and emotions in his films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Johar confesses to a lack of inspiration at the moment to create a family drama. “I make what inspires me. Right now, I am not inspired to make a family saga. I make what drives me at the moment,” said the film-maker, who is busy with his production ventures Gippi!, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.
“I like to make films on human dramas. They move me and motivate me,” added Johar, whose last directorial venture was college drama Student of the Year, which was high on emotional quotient and highlighted bonding among friends and family.
Johar admits that the industry has come a long way and that part of the transformation has been for the good.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.
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