Veteran filmmaker Karan believes he was at the zenith of his career at just 28, when he directed Amitabh Bachchan and roped in late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar to sing for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He went on to admit working with such icons came with immense pressure, and he went through several emotional breakdowns amidst the process.
Karan Johar has shared that his 2001 released blockbuster film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham remains the emotional and creative peak of his career.
Karan looked back on his journey and shared why the 2001 blockbuster remains the emotional amid creative peak of his career.
The filmmaker mentioned that directing Amitabh Bachchan at the age of 28 felt almost unreal. In fact, Karan admitted that he had an emotional breakdown while working on the film, which also featured Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Jaya Bachchan.
“There were kind of two times that happened to me, on separate occasions. One was when he directed Bachchan for the first time. And the other was when Lata ji sang. Both of these happened on his second feature film. He was 28 years old, and was like, man, this is his entire childhood unravelling in front of him and he was like, how can he go beyond this? And still don’t think he has. He thinks he peaked at 28.
He went on to look back at the time when late Lata Mangeshkar was recording the title song of the film. Karan shared, “Lata ji singing the title track, and he was sitting at the console and just weeping. Because she was his entire childhood. She really is. He is obsessed with her. Amit uncle is somebody like, he touches his feet when he meets him. So he is like, can’t believe he was directing him. He took ill the day he was directing him because he was so stressed. And how to tell Amitabh Bachchan what to do? Like, you should just say, ‘Sir, just do what you do. Who is he to say?’”
Karan made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kajol in lead roles. The film was a major success at the box office. He followed it with hits such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, My Name Is Khan, Student of the Year, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Apart from directing, the filmmaker has also backed blockbusters like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dostana, Agneepath, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2 States, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Good Newwz, Kesari and more. He recently backed Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, which stars Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, and Homebound.
News Edit KV Raman
