Karan Johar
Karan Johar (b.
1972) is a son of the late
Yash Johar and a popular
Indian film director, producer and TV celebrity. Karan studied at the
Greenlawns High School and attended
H.R.College in Mumbai, India. Karan has also received a Masters degree in French.
Karan Johar was first seen as
Shahrukh Khan's close friend in the movie
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). He was also Assistant Director on this film and helped
Aditya Chopra in writing the screenplay. In addition, he selected
Shahrukh Khan's costumes, something he continued to do for Shahrukh Khan's other movies like
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997),
Duplicate (1998),
Mohabbatein (2000),
Main Hoon Na and
Veer-Zaara (2004).
He made his directional debut in 1998 with
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which roughly translates to
Something Something Happens, that went on to become a blockbuster.
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai won eight
Filmfare Awards in 1998 including Best Movie, Best Director and all four Best Actor awards for both leading and supporting roles. The film, commonly abbreviated
KKHH, starred
Shahrukh Khan,
Kajol,
Rani Mukerji, and
Anupam Kher.
His second directorial effort, the multi-starrer
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which roughly translates to
Sometimes Happiness Sometimes Sadness, was released in 2001 which was equally, if not more, successful.
K3G, as the film is commonly abbreviated, went on to win five
Filmfare Awards.
In 2003, he produced and wrote the script for
Kal Ho Naa Ho, which was directed by
Nikhil Advani, his Assistant Director from
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Kal Ho Naa Ho, which roughly translates to
Tomorrow May Never Come, starred
Shahrukh Khan,
Preity Zinta,
Jaya Bachchan, and
Saif Ali Khan.
In early
2005, he produced another movie,
Kaal, directed by
Soham Shah, Johar`s Assistant Director from
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Johar did not write the script to
Kaal.
In September
2005, after taking a four year long break from direction, he began working on his third film as a director and fourth film as writer,
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, which roughly translates to
Never Say Goodbye. It stars
Amitabh Bachchan,
Shahrukh Khan,
Rani Mukerji,
Abhishek Bachchan,
Preity Zinta,
Kiron Kher and
Arjun Rampal. '
KANK', as the film is commonly abbreviated, is slated to release on August 11, 2006.
Karan Johar's movies, generally classified as emotional melodramas, find a wide appeal among audiences in India and abroad. His movies glorify the traditions and values of Indian people, and focus on the urban sections of India in particular. Inspired by the
Yash Chopra style of filmmaking, almost all of Johar's films rank high in the "feel good" and "glamorous realism" factor. Karan Johar movies consistently celebrate material luxuries and are characterized by elaborate sets, exquisite costumes and picturesque songs. Karan's style of storytelling is quite relaxing.
Johar has hosted television chat show called
Koffee with Karan commissioned by Star World, in which he interviewed renowned Bollywood celebrities. Johar describes his show as being "casual, cooler and hipper" and aiming to appeal to Indian
yuppiedom. With the first season of the show ending in 2005, Karan will begin the second season in the second half of 2006. The second season will also feature interviews with prominent industrialists.
He also hosted the 2006
Zee Cine Awards on March 4th in
Mauritius.
Writer
*
Untitled Tarun Mansukhani Project (
2007)
*
Untitled Soham Shah Project (
2007)
*
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (
2006)
*
Kal Ho Naa Ho (
2003)
*
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (
2001)
*
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (
1998)
Director
*
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (
2006)
*
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (
2001)
*
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (
1998)
Producer
*
Untitled Tarun Mansukhani Project (
2007)
*
Untitled Soham Shah Project (
2007)
*
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (
2006)
*
Kaal (
2005) (co-producer)
*
Kal Ho Naa Ho (
2003)
*
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (
1998)
*
Duplicate (
1998)
*
Ushay (
1995)
* All movies written by
Karan Johar (
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,
Kal Ho Naa Ho and
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna), start with 'K' and consist of four words due to numerological reasons.
* Most movies produced by Karan Johar and his production company
Dharma Productions consistenly feature his favorite actors, among them
Shahrukh Khan,
Kajol,
Rani Mukerji,
Farida Jalal,
Himani Shivpuri,
Johnny Lever,
Anupam Kher and
Reema Lagoo. However, Karan Johar is not completely against giving newcomers a chance in his films.
* For his films, Karan prefers to work with a certain crew that consists of choreographer
Farah Khan, music directors
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, costume designer
Manish Malhotra, production designer
Sharmishta Roy, lyricist
Javed Akhtar and dialogue writer
Niranjan Iyenger amongst others.
*
Dharma Productions, Karan Johar's production company*
IMDB entry*
Star World's Koffee With Karan
