Filmmaker Karan Johar recently expressed his frustration over the way Bollywood works today. He believes that actors are increasingly getting involved in aspects of filmmaking that don’t necessarily fall
under their job. From questioning casting choices and VFX budgets to wanting a say in trailers, posters and promotional campaigns, Johar feels the lines between different roles in the industry are slowly blurring.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, KJo spoke about how the industry has become too focused on what works at the box office. He also expressed concern over actors and filmmakers moving away from their instincts and following trends simply because a particular kind of film has been successful.
Karan Johar On Actors Interfering In Casting and Other Decisions
Karan Johar shared that he has come across actors who stop narrations because they don’t find their characters ‘alpha’ enough. He pointed out that not every successful film needs a conventional macho hero, citing Saiyaara as an example.
“I’ve heard lead actors stop narrations and say, ‘This character is not alpha enough,’ or ‘This character is not front-footed enough,” said KJo.
He also spoke about actors questioning the VFX budget of a film or asking whether its story has something deeply rooted in it. “I am being asked, ‘What is your VFX budget?’. How is that your problem?! Will I make a tacky looking film because I want to make money off a bad film? No, I’ll obviously do my best,” said Karan.
The filmmaker was equally bothered by what he described as ‘casting diktats’. He recalled actors questioning why a particular performer was being cast instead of someone else.
“Are you a casting director? No. You are an actor, you are part of the cast. You have agreed. The rest of the cast is not your problem,” he said.
Karan further shared that the involvement doesn’t stop there. Some actors also want to have a say in how a film is marketed, including its campaign, trailer edits and posters.
“I’m flummoxed with people’s insecurities. Maybe it’s vulnerabilities, but I’m reading them as insecurities. I’m surprised and shocked that they want to do everything but act. They want to become box-office gurus, trade analysts, perception setters, campaign makers, trailer cutters and poster makers. When are you… acting exactly?” he said.
Karan Johar Says Filmmakers Are Also Responsible
KJo also admitted that filmmakers themselves have played a part in creating this situation. According to him, directors and producers have often given in to such demands because it is easier to agree than to deal with the stress of an argument.
However, he said that he always listens to opinions by actors who have far more experience than him. “If Shah Rukh Khan has an opinion, then I will bow down in respect. Not because he is the biggest in the country, but because his experience supersedes mine. If Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan tells me anything, it’ll be his way. Because his reputation, knowledge base and experience supersedes mine,” he said.
Karan Johar on Bollywood’s Obsession With Successful Film Formulas
The filmmaker also spoke about Bollywood’s tendency to follow a successful film with several similar projects. Referring to Dhurandhar, he praised its distinct background score and overall filmmaking, but wondered how many filmmakers would now try to recreate its success.
He said he misses the time when actors and filmmakers would sign a project simply because they liked the story, rather than calculating its box-office potential.
“If there was math, we would all be chartered accountants, not filmmakers. We are storytellers. Can we just tell our stories?” he said.
Meanwhile, Karan Johar is currently hosting the ninth and final season of Koffee With Karan, which is streaming on JioHotstar.
