The first time I saw him, he was a bouncy cherub. Skittering in and out of a drawing room to eavesdrop on the conversation between his parents – the incredibly congenial Yash and Hiroo Johar – with star guests ranging from Dilip Kumar, Amitabh-Jaya Bachchan, Dev Anand-Zeenat Aman, Sunil-Nargis Dutt, Waheeda Rehman to Salim Khan-Helen. The works!
The cherub would watch, wide-eyed, once halting to ask me, “Didn’t you just love Chandni? Mom and I’ve seen it again and again.” Clearly, here was a cherub to the movie manor born.
The
last time I spoke to him was late last night, on a crackle-free phone line to
London, a Big Ben’s chime away from his 44th birthday, so I can be
pardoned perhaps for wondering, how time flies.
Karan Johar acronymed Kjo is a big boy now who has done his mum and late dad immensely proud.
Debuting as a child actor with the TV serial Indradhanush, kicking up laughs as Shah Rukh Khan’s buddy in Dilwale Dulania Le Jayenge, he swerved to direction with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai following up the youth-centric blockbuster with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, My Name is Khan and Student of the Year. Currently Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is in the works.
A prolific film producer as well, plus an ubiquitous TV personality, not to forget the crowd-ka-laadla emcee at top-of-the-line stage events, Kjo has just moved from a commodious Bandra office to an even cooler workplace in Andheri, Bollywood’s No.1 place-to-go-to.
Here, then, are excerpts from our Quint-essential chat-fest:
On Turning 44
“At
44, I feel rejuvenated and recharged almost like a vintage battery which
suddenly got reactivated. I’m professionally more motivated and personally more
decisive. I’m ready to make my fourth decade count more than ever before.
Dharma Productions, started by my dad, has been my wonderful inheritance. Our new office, Dharma 2.0 dedicated to him, will not be a fraternity battlefield but a platform which will leverage talent. My dreams have a vision, a path to pursue today. I’ve made some decisions which will unfold with time, fingers crossed.
If I may say so, my personal story has had a great first part. The sequel promises to be better, sequel abhi baaqi hai mere doston.”
On Dharma 2.0
“When
I walk the corridors of the new office, I experience a mix of ‘khushi’ for the
growth of Dharma, and ‘gham’ because my father is no longer there. I’ve imbibed
my moral values from him. It’s been a void of almost 12 years now, I miss him
every moment every day. The ‘mother-ship’, my mother, continues to be the
heartbeat. She is and always will be the only woman in my life. I’m blessed to
be her only child.”
Is Kjo a Limelight Moth?
“I love the camera. I don’t know if I have the looks to justify the attention though. If the paparazzi follows me, I hope it never stops. I can’t do without L’Oreal to colour the grey in my hair. Fortunately, I don’t have to use Botox or go in for nips and tucks to be in what you call the limelight.”
On That Thing Called Happiness
“I’m a natural-born happy guy but there are moments when I skip in and out of depression. Maybe I’m a typical Gemini with two faces. Since, I’m an only child, I’m used to getting my way. The only time I didn’t is when I prayed to God fervently to keep my dad alive, but God had other plans.”
On the Travel Bug
“I’ve
been living out of a suitcase. Perhaps I’m an escapist. But honestly, there are
no major upheavals in my personal life. I’ve been globetrotting mostly in the
line of professional duty. I took a break this month to chill out in a spa in
Austria. Now I’m in London, my favourite city in the world, next to Mumbai of
course.”
On the Wildest Night Out
“I dared
to dance on the top of a table at Tramps (a London night club) after downing
several energy drinks. Quite a few people thought that I was part of the
entertainment act and wanted to tip me. I was quite flattered… and appalled. I
wouldn’t ever dream of doing this again. It’s essential to be thoda sa serious.”
Rapid Fire With Karan Johar
Love or sex?
Love, I’m good at that. Regarding sex, I could do much better.
Fame or fortune?
Fame, I’m good at that too. Fortune, maybe some day inshallah.
Clothes or artworks?
Clothes. There was a time when I was crazy about the double-knit sweaters worn by Rishi Kapoor. Of late, my craziest buy was a suit to match my belt! In any case, why buy artworks to hang on the walls when I can buy a Ferragamo suit to hang on myself? I tell Apurva, my dear friend and CEO of Dharma, “Look, why’re you fed up of my retail therapy sprees? I don’t spend money on alcohol or sex.”And he says, “That would cost less than your wardrobe!”
(The writer is a film critic, filmmaker, theatre director and a weekend painter)
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