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Three decades into filmmaking, today Karan Johar is watching the industry chase its own successes — one hit film spawning a dozen imitations, while actors and technicians increasingly weigh in on parts of the job that aren't theirs.
He points to characters being rejected for not being “alpha” enough, and to actors questioning VFX budgets and casting choices on films they haven't produced.
Discussing the changing dynamics of the film industry in a chat with THR India, Johar, currently hosting JioHotstar's Koffee With Karan, shared, “I'm concerned with the herd mentality; I'm very concerned with confused artists and filmmakers who don't follow their instinct like they used to, or perhaps want to, because they are conforming to what they believe is box-office friendly.”
The filmmaker recalled encounters where actors stopped a narration midway over a character not being “alpha” or “front-footed” enough.
“I've heard lead actors stop narrations and say, ‘This character is not alpha enough,’ or ‘This character is not front-footed enough,'" Johar said, noting that a major reference of a commercial success was Saiyaara, a film about an "empathetic lover" who is "not alpha".
Johar further revealed being asked questions ranging from 'What is your VFX budget?’ to ‘Does the film have anything deeply rooted?'
"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.”
Another contentious change he points to is the rise of “casting diktats” from actors who question him, ‘Why should we take this actor? Why not that actor?’
“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,” Johar adds.
According to the filmmaker, actors increasingly want to be involved in more than the acting required for the film, including signing off on campaigns, trailer cuts 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 continued, “Now I feel many of us as filmmakers have been deeply complicit in the creation of this monstrosity. We've allowed this because (we feel) ‘It's too stressful, just say yes.'"
Though, Johar clarified, that this is taken into context when the actor holds more experience, because their expertise holds value. "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.”
On the trends of following the template of successful films, Johar referenced Dhurandhar, describing its background score and overall craft as distinct, and said its success would likely be followed by attempts at imitation. “But every film cannot become that,” he says.
Johar longs for “good old-fashioned instinct,” where the logic behind signing films would just be, "I like the film. I'll do it."
“If there was math, we would all be chartered accountants, not filmmakers. We are storytellers. Can we just tell our stories?” he sighs.