Karan Johar rumored to cast Shah Rukh Khan for Bombay Talkies

To celebrate the 100 years of Indian cinema, four directors will be joining hands to roll out a one-of-a-kind film called Bombay Talkies. One of the established directors who will be calling the shots for a portion of the film is Dharma Productions head, Karan Johar. The director will direct one of the four short-films that will be featured in Bombay Talkies. As always, there has been a lot of talk about Karan’s plans for the film.

Speculations have been ripe with rumors of Karan casting Shah Rukh Khan for the lead role in the film surfacing. However, Karan hasn’t confirmed any of the rumors and has instead claimed to have not cast anyone for the film yet! “I am currently in the pre-production stage and haven’t cast anyone. I just locked the screenplay a few days ago, and plan to start the shoot by the end of January,” says Karan Johar, speaking about the short film.

The film will be one of Karan Johar’s shortest films. The producer-director is known for creating particularly long films and squeezing in an entire story in a 20 minute time-frame seems like a trend breaker! Speaking about the same, Karan also articulated, “I am excited by this short film. It’s something I have never done before”.

Previously, Karan Johar has directed a bunch of films that include Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010) and his recent release, Student of the Year (2012). All of these films have been blockbusters and Karan’s contribution to Bombay Talkies is expected to further push the film into the limelight. Bombay Talkies will release on the 3rd of May, 2013.

Karan Johar gives Bollywood a host of new actors and directors!

Karan Johar is more than one of India’s most sought-after producers. The Dharma Productions chief is also known for revolutionizing B-town’s attitude towards newcomers. He has been laying the brickwork for the careers of several newbies in the industry lately, including directors and actors too. Karan’s most recent film release, Student of the Year, stars four promising newcomers we’ll be seeing a load of in the future. The film has launched the careers of model-turned-actor Siddharth Malhotra, director David Dhawan’s son Varun Dhawan, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter Alia Bhatt and actor Boman Irani’s son Kayoze Irani.

Besides this, Karan has one previous account launched several directors. For Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), a romantic drama film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta and Jaya Bachchan, Johar roped in Nikhil Advani, who later went on to direct blockbusters like Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007). And that’s not all. Karan has also launched director Tarun Mansukhani with Dostana (2008), Ayan Mukerji with Wake Up Sid (2009) Punit Malhotra (I Hate Luv Storys), Renzil D’Slive (Kurbaan), and his assistant director Sidharth Malhotra (We Are Family).

In the near future, Karan Johar will bring to the big-screen the film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani directed by debutant Akshay Roy. Student of the Year is Karan Johar’s first with newcomers however and the director has stepped away from his usual movie-making strategy, roping in newcomers instead of big stars. We did workshops and they were found to be right for the roles. They have this enduring charm to them and though they had some rough edges, I knew that they had potential to face the camera. Moreover after watching the film, you would realize that they have this correct celluloid presence. While Siddharth has the right restraint to play Abhi, Varun carries good enough flamboyance to play Rohan,” articulated Karan, speaking about his debutants.

Is Karan Johar dating?

Karan Johar

Karan Johar has always been making headlines with the stupendous films he has been directing and producing under his Dharma Productions banner. The director of five films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Student of the Year (2012) and the producer of many more, Karan Johar has been lauded with praises for his multifaceted knack for the world of movies. And that’s not all. Given the fact that Karan is one of the industry’s most successful individuals, he has been asked about his personal life and relationships several times before. 

Speaking about his love life, Karan Johar articulated, “I have invariably been in love when I haven't had the same reciprocated emotion at all. I don't choose to talk about my personal life because I believe that I don't want to and I believe my personal life is personal.” The director has kept his life off-screen away from the prying eyes of the world at large. He went on to add, “I don't claim to have led a saintly life. There have been a lot of one-sided love stories in my life. I have seen more heart breaks than heart make...”

For Karan Johar, friendships and relationships in B-town aren’t like they used to be either. Quoting Karan Johar, “It's a dinosaur ... it's definitely a dying breed because I don't think people have the bandwidth emotionally to sustain friendships in our industry. You cannot have an equal connection with anyone. Somewhere if you play the subservient part you maintain a friendship - there is no such thing as an equal friendship.”

He might be the one who knows how to portray romance in the dreamiest sequences on-screen, but Karan Johar seems to know better. The veteran director understands fairytale romances to be limited to the world of movies and prefers staying married to his work and away from the realm of dating!

Siddharth Malhotra rubbishes rumors of dating Alia Bhatt

Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have had a dream debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. The film has worked as a perfect launch pad for the three debutants. Directed by Karan Johar, this film is jointly produced by Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. A campus romance in essence, the film revolves around a love triangle that forms the basic premise of this film.

And as always, with fame comes a bunch of rumors. Some of these have claimed Siddharth Malhotra to be dating his co-star, the gorgeous Alia Bhatt. The two actors have however put these rumors to rest. In regards to the matter, Siddharth Malhotra articulated, "Aaah, no I am not involved with anyone right now and there is no dating-shating happening. People who have been in this journey of mine are my family members and very close friends. Beyond that there is no one else in my close relation with." In a separate interview previously, Siddharth also said, “Everything written in the media should not be taken seriously. It's a mental game. You need to detach yourself from reviews, media, etc. How to survive before and after release too matters a lot.”

And it isn’t just Siddharth Malhotra who seems unaffected by these rumors. Quoting Alia, “My father (Mahesh Bhatt) had warned me that this would happen. I was prepared for these speculations. What I’m worried about is the expectations. People are just waiting to write you off. I’ve got this platform at an early age. Many girls would want to be in my shoes. I don’t want such false rumors to overshadow my work.”

In the film, Siddharth plays the role of Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi while Alia Bhatt plays Shanaya Singhania. Varun Dhawan plays her boyfriend Rohan Nanda and the film also includes Rishi Kapoor playing a gay school dean.

Does Karan Johar’s protégé, Alia Bhatt, have a boyfriend?

Karan Johar has introduced three newcomers with his newest film, Student of the Year. Together, the three of them have given fans a load to look forward to. Termed as some of the most promising debutants of contemporary Bollywood, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have managed to grab the attention of fans and industry bigwigs as well. A dream debut for the three of them, the young actors have been in the spotlight ever since Karan Johar first officially announced the film.

Alia Bhatt, the female lead in the film, has gathered a bunch of admirers too. The young actress is the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and has been termed as one of the prettiest youngsters in B-town. At the tender age of 19, Karan Johar’s mentee, Alia, has quickly turned into a prominent face, making headlines for her fresh performance in Student of the Year. And as we all know, with fame comes a load of speculation and a ton of rumors. Alia has been linked up several times now and went on to prove these rumors wrong saying, “My father (Mahesh Bhatt) had warned me that this would happen. I was prepared for these speculations. What I’m worried about is the expectations. People are just waiting to write you off. I’ve got this platform at an early age. Many girls would want to be in my shoes. I don’t want such false rumors to overshadow my work.”

The actress seems well prepared to beat down rumors and coming from a family rooted deep in Bollywood, she does seem to know how to react to it all! “I don’t really care about people discussing my personal life. I’m fond of Varun and Sid but no I’m not going out with either. And no, I have no boyfriend in Bandra. A boyfriend doesn’t really fit into my scheme of things right now. My boyfriend is Student Of The Year,” added the young actor, handpicked by director Karan Johar.

“We need to shake this industry with new energy,” says SOTY director Karan Johar

Student of  The Year

As always, director, producer and head of Dharma Productions, Karan Johar, has managed to grab the imagination and attention of the audience. Karan’s most recent directorial venture, Student of the Year, has been extremely well received by the audiences post its release on the 19th of October, 2012. The film is a campus romance starring three debutants, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. “It’s not a path-breaking narrative. I think the freshness is because of them (Siddharth, Varun and Alia). The film would not have worked without new faces. There’s a paucity of acting talent and people are fed up of circling around the same male stars. When I read newspapers, I see the same 10 people saying the same thing. You start off sounding a little edgy and then you become politically correct. Actors are caught up in this whirlwind of the industry and I think that more fresh talent will challenge them. We need to shake this industry with new energy,” articulated Karan Johar.

The film is a flashback narrated by yet another promising debutant, actor Boman Irani’s son Kayoze Irani. The plot revolves around the story of three students at a prestigious academy called St. Teresa’s High School. In the film, Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan) is the son of a successful and wealthy business tycoon. A spoiled brat of sorts, Rohan has it all, yet pines for his father’s affection. Dating the school’s campus-sweetheart, Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), further adds to Rohan’s list of stuff to brag about.

However, the young swaggering lad with a good heart is challenged when Abhimanyu Singh (Siddharth Malhotra) steps on campus. A middle-class boy enrolled on a scholarship, Abhi manages to grab the spotlight, causing a rivalry between Rohan and him. Things further escalate when Abhi falls in love with Shanaya and her boyfriend Rohan finds out. As the plot unwinds, Rohan, Abhi and Shanaya finally enter a competition organized by the school’s gay and disciplinarian dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor).

Catch this glamorous campus romance by Karan Johar for some fantastic performances and a memorable soundtrack!

Siddharth Malhotra, Karan Johar’s latest find, is pleased with his big-screen debut

Siddharth Malhtora

Star-material is not easy to find. One such jewel in the crowd however is Karan Johar’s newest find, Siddharth Malhotra. The young actor has recently made his debut with Karan’s campus-romance, Student of the Year, alongside Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. A model-turned-actor with no previous experience on the big-screen or a filmy background, Siddharth Malhotra has managed to grab the spotlight and make a memorable debut.

Siddharth began his career as a model in Delhi before moving to Mumbai to audition for a film directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film however failed to take off and Siddharth moved on to working as an assistant director for Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan. “I came to Mumbai to be an actor. I was modelling in Delhi with my agency and then came to Mumbai for a film to be directed by Anubhav Sinha after Cash. It was being produced by Adlabs. My parents were surprised and I had to show them my contract but luckily that film never took off,” says Siddharth adding, “That's when I thought to stay back and try a bit out in the B-town. If it wasn't for the money I earned from my first producers for the film that didn't take off, I wouldn't have been here in Mumbai. That had to happen for me to come here. For me to try, I had to know how the film fraternity functions. So that's where assisting came up and I got My Name Is Khan.”

While working for My Name is Khan, his knack for movies was noticed by Karan Johar who handpicked Siddharth for the role of Abhimanyu Singh in Student of the Year. The plot revolves around a middle-class boy who enrolls at the prestigious St. Teresa’s School where he meets Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan). Abhi befriends Rohan and winds up falling in love with Shanaya, causing a love triangle to ensue.
The film released on the 19th of October, 2012 and also includes veteran actor Rishi Kapoor playing the role of a gay school dean named Yogendra Vasisht.

Karan Johar beats down gay rumors; prefers staying single and married to work

Karan Johar

He has directed five films, produced a ton more and has launched the careers of several directors and a bunch of fresh new actors. All of this certainly makes a man popular and Dharma Productions honcho Karan Johar certainly is one of the most recognizable faces in Bollywood. When a man is this famous, you’d expect the world to try and seek information on his personal life! Karan Johar has indeed been asked about his relationship status and his life away from the world of movies. The director, not one to divulge too much, has kept his private life under wraps more often than not.

"I am not currently in love. I am too worried to commit. I have not been in a relationship", said Karan Johar in an interview with talk-show host Simi Garewal. Speaking his mind about Bollywood relationships and friendships in the industry today, Karan said, “It's a dinosaur, umm, it's definitely a dying breed because I don't think people have the bandwidth emotionally to sustain friendships in our industry. You cannot have an equal connection with anyone. Somewhere if you play the subservient part you maintain a friendship - there is no such thing as an equal friendship. Two powerful people cannot be friends”.

And that’s not all he’s had to say! When further asked about the rumors about his sexual orientation, Karan articulated, "It doesn't bother me when people talk about my bisexual orientation. Obviously if I am 39 and single people will question me. Why should I say I am not gay or I am not bisexual or trisexual?" For him, the tittle-tattle that surrounds his personal life is not something that’ll affect his passion for movies or his work as a whole. The director has previously stated that he is currently married to his work and prefers staying so, doing what he does best – making movies!

Has Karan Johar’s newbie Siddharth Malhotra signed a couple of films with Balaji?

Siddharth Malhotra

His popularity knows no bounds and he has quickly turned into one of B-town’s most sought after newcomers today. Weeks after his Bollywood debut hit the big-screen; Siddharth Malhotra is rumored to already have been offered a film deal and numerous offers for the future! According to an industry insider, Yes, Siddharth has been signed by Ekta. She is very impressed with his overall looks and talent. According to her, he has the intensity of Ajay Devgan along with the looks of Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan. The first film with Siddharth, in all likelihood, will start next year.”

Ekta Kapoor has previously mentioned her desire to have the young actor in one of her upcoming movies. The filmmaker shares a strong friendship with director Karan Johar and articulated, “We are doing a number of films with many directors. We need to look closely at which film Siddharth can be the best fit for, and also keep in mind what he would like to do next in his career. There’s still some time to go to finalise what films he would be part of. But it will happen sometime early next year. Nothing is finalised as of now,”

The news isn’t confirmed by the filmmaker or the actor. Director Karan Johar is enthusiastic to see his protégés in upcoming films by production houses other besides his own. Said Karan at a recent interview, “I am proud of all three (Siddharth, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt), and would be proud if they get signed up for some good films outside our banner (Dharma Productions).”

In Student of the Year, Siddharth plays Abhimanyu Singh, a middle class boy who enrolls at a prestigious school. Here, he falls in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) while coincidentally befriending her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), causing a love triangle.

The film released on the 19th of October, 2012, and was well-received by the audiences.

Karan Johar speaks about his view on dating and prefers staying single!

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been constantly pestered to divulge information about his love life to the masses. And it certainly isn’t surprising, given the fact that he is indeed one of the most eligible bachelors today. The director-producer and head of Dharma Productions has been enjoying a successful career with just about every film he lays his hands on turning into blockbusters. After having directed the films Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), all of which were huge hits at the box office, Karan Johar recently unveiled his fifth directorial venture titled Student of the Year. As always, this film too has turned into a benchmark, driving audiences to cinema screens across the country.

At the Marrakech International Film Festival where a number of his films were shown, paying tribute to Indian cinema, Karan Johar went on to state, "I am single and not ready to mingle. I am wedded to work and my kind of love doesn't exist." The director-producer has spent most of his time tied up with his passion for films and keeps himself busy with the same, staying a step away from the world of dating and relationships.

“Right now I am not ready for any kind of relationship as I am too used to my independence. Marriage is a definite no-no. I am totally married to my company. Emotionally, my mother fills up the void in my life. So there it is. My company is a spouse I will never cheat on, and my mother completes me as a son. I think I have a full family unit of my own. I am happy probably because I am single. Let’s face it, how many married people are really happy? Just kidding (laughs)!” said Karan.

As for his most recent film, Student of the Year, this campus romance includes Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, all of who have made their Bollywood debuts with the film.

Karan Johar’s SOTY stars Siddharth with Rishi Kapoor as a gay dean

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has been known for his romantic on-screen persona, appearing in romantic roles several times in the past. Off late however, the actor seems to have stepped away from his usual for director Karan Johar, first playing the role of Rauf Lala in the remake of Agneepath and recently a gay dean in Student of the Year. The film is Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture and stars debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt in the lead.

Quoting Rishi Kapoor speaking about his gay role in Student of the Year, "Yes, my character is soft on Ronit in Student of the Year. Why not? I play the dean of the college. And yes, my character is gay.  It's one of the most important roles of my career at the moment. This is the time of my career when I get to experiment. I don't want to play the conventional father. Besides, I can't say no to Karan." The director himself has been all-praise for Rishi’s role in the recently released movie and has previously stated “Such an honor to work with Rishi Kapoor... his versatility is unreal... Rauf lala to his portrayal of Dean Yoginder Vasisht in SOTY... genius (sic)!"

Apart from that, Rishi Kapoor has gone all out with praise for the newcomers in the film stating “All the young kids are terrific. Whatever I’ve seen of the film, they’re very talented and focused, waiting on the threshold of a big career. It’s great victory for Karan, to make a film on this scale with newcomers. In today’s times, no one risks his money and position, especially at the stage where Karan is. It’s great for a man of his stature to spend enormous money on this film. He said his way of making a movie is the same, only the hero has changed. He has the guts, the gall to make a film with his vision, thinking. All the credit for SOTY goes to Karan.”

Siddharth Malhotra ecstatic about his recent debut in Student of the Year

Siddharth Malhotra

Young blood Siddharth Malhotra has been enjoying the success of his debut film, Student of the Year. A Karan Johar directorial venture, the film has launched Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The young actors have been ecstatic about the film’s success, particularly Siddharth for who this is indeed a completely new experience. Unlike his costars, Siddharth does not hail from a filmy background. While Alia Bhatt’s father is the illustrious filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt; Varun Dhawan is the son of the veteran director, David Dhawan. Siddharth hails from the modeling industry and was previously a model for several fashion designers including Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra and Rohit Bal.

After moving to Mumbai and auditioning for a film that failed to take off, Siddharth took up a job as an assistant director to Karan Johar for the film My Name Is Khan. Here, his affinity for the silver screen was noticed by Karan, who handpicked him for a role in Student of the Year. The young actor is now extremely pleased with the reception his debut film has received. “It is like a dream come true for me also. I am indeed happy but now I will have to keep my folks and my fans too happy. After watching the movie, my nani asked me ‘kya tune really us ladki ko kiss kiya yah fir it was a fake scene?’ (Did you really kiss that girl or was it a fake scene). On learning the truth, she got angry with me. Anyway, as an actor we have to keep everyone happy. I hope I can do so in the future too.”

In Student of the Year, Siddharth Malhotra plays the role of Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi, an ambitious middle-class boy who enrolls at a well-heeled school in Dehradun. Here, he falls in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and befriends her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), causing a love triangle that forms the premise of this film.

Siddharth Malhotra makes his mark on the big-screen with Student of the Year

Confidence is the key to success, and newcomer Siddharth Malhotra seems to understand that fact well enough! Making his debut in the recent Karan Johar release titled Student of the Year; Siddharth has left the audience baffled with his fantastically unscarred performance in the film. starring alongside Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, both of who have also made their debut with this campus romance, Siddharth has managed to grab hearts with his first appearance on the big-screen and is being termed as one of the most sought-after newcomers of contemporary cinema.

Siddharth began his career in Delhi, walking the runway for several fashion designers including Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra and Rohit Bal. His Bollywood dreams brought him down to the bustling city that never sleeps, Mumbai. “When I was in Delhi I was modeling with an agency called Elite. From there I auditioned for a film to be made by Anurag Sinha, produced by Adlabs etc. so I came to Mumbai with a big high. The film never really took off. Then I thought since I want to get into films let me learn how it’s made. So assisting came up.”

Siddharth jumped aboard the Dharma Productions brigade, working as an Assistant Director to Karan Johar for the film My Name Is Khan. “When I joined Dharma Productions I was hoping to become either an actor or a filmmaker. It wasn’t a choice. I couldn’t launch myself. Luckily I became an actor. If I wasn’t acting right now then in the next three years I would’ve tried for becoming a director”, said Siddharth, whose knack for movies was noticed by Karan Johar, leading him to bag a role in Student of the Year.

In Student of the Year, Siddharth plays Abhimanyu, a middle class boy who enrolls at a prestigious school and befriends the campus sweetheart Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan). This results in a love triangle that forms the premise of this film.

Pooja Bhatt plans to rope in Karan Johar’s newbie, Alia Bhatt!

Alia Bhatt has been highly acclaimed for her debut appearance in B-town, starring in Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture, Student of the Year. In the film, the young actor has starred alongside two more newcomers, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan who together have managed to grab hearts. The film is a campus romance and has introduced Alia Bhatt to the big-screen in grandeur!

The 19-year-old actor has indeed landed a dream debut with this Karan Johar film. Before the film’s release, Alia articulated, "I have no experience about films and acting. I have not done any training. So my whole stint has been a learning experience. I didn't even know the 'A' of acting". The daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, Alia is the half sister of Pooja Bhatt, an actress who she looks up to. "There are actresses who started working at a very young age. Like my sister (Pooja Bhatt) started working when she was 17. So age doesn't matter", said Alia previously.

Now, after the release of her debut film, Alia’s sister is rumored to have been currently planning a film with her and Ranbir Kapoor. As per reports, the film could very well be a remake of the movie `Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahi` that was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and starred Pooja Bhatt and Aamir Khan. Speaking about her plans for the film, now-director Pooja Bhatt stated, "I would love to remake `Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahi` with Alia and Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. I think if there is anyone, who could take my place in that film, then it is Alia. And as far as Aamir`s character is concerned I think Ranbir is the best choice".

As for Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, the film released on the 19th of October, 2012, and gave Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan a perfect launch into stardom!

For Karan Johar, family comes first!

Karan Johar is known for creating films revolving around family life, love and relationships. Having directed the films Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), Karan has carved a mark for himself as the director of some of the most heart-touching films created. Recently, he pulled the veil off a campus-romance starring newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. Titled Student of the Year, the film managed to grab the imagination of the audiences and struck a chord as always.

Karan Johar

It takes a certain emotion to roll out films that connect this well with the audiences and Karan Johar seems to know best. The director spent his younger years as an introverted teenager, opening up to the world only later on to become one of the most successful directors of contemporary cinema. “I had problems with my weight and other children would make fun of me. I had asthma which meant I couldn’t play sports. So, I took it all to my heart so much that I became depressed and introverted. I was extremely shy to the extent of madness where I wouldn’t step out of my house!”

The director has hallways held the importance of one’s family in high regard. For him, his mother tops the list of his priorities. In his past, the director turned to his parents for guidance and continues to do so even today, sharing a close relationship with his mother. “My mother told me: no matter what you do, don’t be mediocre”, said Karan in an interview recently. “So, whether it is a film I am making or an interview I am giving, I ensure I give it my all.”

The wisdom this multifaceted director has gained from his parents is now passed down by him to the newcomers in B-town who’re known to look up to Karan Johar for guidance.

Karan Johar brings alive campus romances yet again with Student of the Year

Karan Johar has been crafting campus-romances ever since his first directorial venture titled Kuch Kuch Hota Hai that took the box office by storm back in 1998. Putting his expertise to use once again, Karan recently pulled the veil off his most recent release titled Student of the Year. Besides being a heart-touching and enjoyable movie, Student of the Year has also been a launchpad for three promising debutants, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. A dream debut for the three youngsters, the film has been crowned a blockbuster. Just like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, this film too is a love triangle that ensues in a campus. Unlike Kuch Kuch Hota Hai however, the film has no second lead. In Student of the Year, Siddharth, Varun and Alia share the lead.

Student of The year

Produced under the Dharma Productions banner owned by Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the film features Siddharth Malhotra as Abhimanyu Singh, an independent student from a middle-class family seeking to fund his own education. Varun Dhawan plays Rohan Nanda, the boastful son of a business tycoon. To add to the blend, Alia Bhatt plays Shanaya Singhania, the center of attraction who prefers competing against the boys, instead of cheering for them. Rishi Kapoor also stars in this film, playing the role of a gay school dean name yogendra vasisth.

A movie full of energy, charm and lots of glamour, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year is bound to have you wishing for your younger days once more. The film will released on the 19th of October, 2012, and has a soundtrack composed by music-director duo Vishal Shekhar. Also, the film will include a special appearance by Karan Johar’s lucky star Kajol who will feature in a music video with Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan. There have also been rumors of an appearance by Shah Rukh Khan!

Karan Johar introduces new talent with his films

Karan Johar

Karan Johar is more than just one of Bollywood’s most renowned directors. The filmmaker has been known to have a knack for picking out exceptional talent from the masses and has proved his great instinct in filmmaking previously. Recently, Kara n unveiled his fifth directorial venture titled Student of the Year. The film is a launchpad for three newcomers in B-town including Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. Directed by Karan Johar, the film is produced by his production house Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

The director of blockbuster films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), Karan Johar has on previous account also introduced a host of young directors to the big-screen who in turn have gone ahead to impress the audiences. In all, Karan Johar has produced 12 films of which, 9 were directed by first-time directors!

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), a romantic drama film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta and Jaya Bachchan, Johar roped in Nikhil Advani, who later went on to direct blockbusters like Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007). Karan Johar has introduced Tarun Mansukhani with Dostana (2008), with the sequel currently being planned. For the film Wake Up Sid (2009), Dharma Productions put debutant director Ayan Mukerji’s talents to play.

Karan Johar  has also introduced Punit Malhotra (I Hate Luv Storys), Renzil D’Slive (Kurbaan), and his assistant director Sidharth Malhotra (We Are Family) and will soon unveil debutant Akshay Roy’s film, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. The director believes in bringing newer talent to a film industry packed with veterans. This gives the audience a lot more to look forward to, in turn giving the Bollywood industry a touch of variety as well.

Marrakech Film Festival to screen three Karan Johar films!

Karan Johar

Karan Johar is easily one of India’s most talented and multifaceted directors. The filmmaker has produced and directed a bunch of movies that have successfully taken the box-office by storm. In the past, Karan has rolled out well-received films including "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” and “My Name is Khan”. His most recent release titled Student of the Year has managed to grasp the imagination of the mass audiences yet again.

The filmmaker has now been invited to the world-renowned Marrakech International Film Festival. Three of Karan Johar’s films will be played the festival including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham that will be screened on the opening night. Agneepath and Student of the Year will be starred during the festival too. Quoting Karan Johar, "It's a great tribute for the Indian film fraternity to be honoured at an international platform such as this. The fest also has a special emotional connect with me because my films, such as 'Kabhi Khushi...' have a vast audience in Morocco".

The Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham screening will be attended by Amitabh Bachchan while Rishi Kapoor will attend the screening of Agneepath. The film Student of the Year on the other hand will have its newcomer cast in attendance including Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The Marrakech International Film Festival will commemorate the 100 years of the Indian film industry in 2013. Beginning on the 30th of November, the festival will continue till the 8th of December.

“I have landed a dream debut”, says Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra has wooed the audiences with his fantastic performance in the recently released film, Student of the Year. A Karan Johar directorial venture, the film hit cinema screens on the 19th of October, 2012, and has been on just about everyone’s lips these days. The film has shot its three young lead debutants to fame. Starring Siddharth Malhotra alongside Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt in the lead, the film is a campus romance.

Siddharth Malhotra

"Sometimes, I'm a bit nervous. But at most times, I'm confident. I have landed a dream debut. Karan, according to me, has the safest pair of hands in the film business”, said Siddharth Malhotra for who, this film was more than just a dream debut! The young actor first began his career walking the ramp for the likes of Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra and Rohit Bal. Siddharth has on previous account also won the Gladrags Face of the Year 2009 award and the NDTV Model of the Year 2010.

He then moved to Mumbai for an audition of a film that failed to take off. After this, Siddharth took up a job as an Assistant Director to Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan in 2010. While working for the film, he gained recognition and caught Karan’s eye. The director then handpicked this lucky youngster for a leading role in Student of the Year. Quoting Siddharth, One day, I was assisting Karan on My Name is Khan, and now I'm the leading man of Student of the Year. I have to pinch myself to believe this is for real.”
In the film, Siddharth plays the role of Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi, a middle class boy who enrolls at a prestigious school on a sports scholarship. At the school he falls in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) only after first befriending her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the son of a business tycoon. This results in a teenage love triangle. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor essaying the role of a gay school dean named Yogendra Vasisht

Acting wasn’t an easy journey for Karan Johar’s protégé, Siddharth Malhotra

For an newcomer to quickly rise to stardom, one certainly needs a strong footing in the film industry. Debutant Siddharth Malhotra howeer managed to achieve it all despite lacking a filmy background. The actor recently made his first big-screen appearance with the film Student of the Year, a Karan Johar project. Siddharth stars alongside Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt in this latest release, both of who have also made their debut with Student of the Year. Unlike Varun Dhawan who is the son of the veteran filmmaker David Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt, Siddharth comes from a family with no connections in Bollywood.

Siddharth Malhotra

"It has not been an easy journey. I started my career with modeling and then worked with Karan as an assistant director. At that time I had never imagined that he will cast me as a lead actor in his movie," said Siddharth Malhotra who first began his stint in Bollywood as an Assistant Director to Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan in 2010. Speaking about his co-stars Varun and Alia, Siddharth added, "I have nothing to fall back on, for them (Alia and Varun) they can take guidance from there parents but I can't even discuss anything with my parents as they know nothing about the industry. I have to work harder and be more attentive because I don't have an option. So it does make it tougher”.

 In his first film, Siddharth plays the role of Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi, a middle class boy who enrolls at a prestigious school in Dehradun on a sports scholarship. Here he meets Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the swaggering son of a business tycoon. Student of the Year also includes Rishi Kapoor who pulls of the role of a gay school dean fantastically. Karan Johar’s Student of the Year hit cinema screens on the 19th of October, 2012.

Karan Johar to produce film directed by Punit Malhotra

Karan johar Punit Malhotra

After the success of his fifth directorial venture, Student of the Year, Karan Johar has been enjoying a lot of acclaim and recognition recently. And all of this certainly isn’t new for the director-producer who has rolled out several blockbusters before. On previous account, Karan Johar has directed several films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), all of which have taken the box-office by storm. His most recent film starring newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan too has carved a mark for itself in the box-office and was proclaimed a hit after its release.

That said, the filmmaker is now drawing up plans for his future releases. Karan has been rumored to have begun work on a script written by his late father, Yash Johar. Quoting Karan, “It’s a period love story and it’s a script I have had for the past eight years. In fact, my father had researched the film. He had gone to Lahore for three months before he passed away. After his demise, I had such an emotional attachment with the script that I couldn’t bring myself to work on it”.

 Also, the director has been busy producing an upcoming film directed by Punit Malhotra. The film will be released under the Dharma Productions banner and is reported to star Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan. Karan has mentioned the film previously stating, "First up is Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, followed by 2 States with Arjun Kapoor. It is our first co-production with Sajid Nadiadwala. Then, there's Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor's film by Punit Malhotra”.

As for Karan’s most recent release, Student of the Year, the film is an extravagant campus romance that involves a love triangle and Rishi Kapoor’s fantastic performance as a gay school dean named Yogendra Vasisht. The film released on the 19th of October, 2012.

Acting was Student of the Year star Varun Dhawan’s dream

There has been a load of speculation lately about newcomer Varun Dhawan’s plans to work in a film directed by his father. After having recently debuted in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, Varun has quickly turned into one of Bollywood’s most sought-after newcomers. The young actor has been quizzed time and again about his plans for upcoming movies. Varun has however stayed tight-lipped, not choosing to divulge any of his plans to the masses.

Speaking about his father, the veteran filmmaker David Dhawan and his own recent debut in Student of the Year, Varun articulated, “My dream was to get into acting, but I couldn’t tell my father. It used to make me uncomfortable. When I was 16, I told him that I want to be an actor and he said, ‘Become one,’ in serious tone. I started thinking what to do and my mother told me not to expect any help.”

Despite being from a strong filmy background, Varun chose to be launched by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, a banner away from home, hoping the experience would help tailor him into a better actor. "My father didn't even discuss with either me or my brother Rohit about making us an actor or director respectively. You look at his record, he has made 40 films and still hasn't launched a single newcomer," said Varun, adding, "That is the way he has always worked and this is the reason why from day one I knew that if I had to enter the film industry or any other line, I would have to make my own path".

In Student of the Year, Varun plays the role of Rohan Nanda, the swaggering son of a business tycoon. Speaking about his role in the film, Varun said, “I play the role of Rohan Nanda, who associates himself with Delhi’s high society and is well connected. Very pampered and a bit sunky, he always does everything differently. He is grey at places. But he is very simple from his heart. The emotions are simple and anyone will be able to relate to him”.

Karan Johar breaks myths of happy endings with his latest films

Karan Johar has been known to direct movies with a romantic edge. All of his previous releases have centered around the concept of love and relationships, including his first release titled Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) followed by Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). His newest release titled Student of the Year follows suit too, but stars three complete newcomers in the lead including Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film is a campus romance, giving viewers a closer look at teenage relationships and love at a younger age.

After having successfully released a variety of films under his Dharma Productions banner, Karan is jubilant. "While it was special for me to begin the year with a remake of my father's film Agneepath, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu broke the myth about romcoms having a happy ending,” said Karan speaking about the films released by him in 2012. Both of these films were produced by Karan Johar. His directorial venture, Student of the Year has also been a challenge for this multifaceted director. Quoting Karan, "It was bittersweet and unusual. With Student of the Year, we launched three fresh faces for the first time. The idea is to launch many more films and expand our base."

Also, the director has stepped away from his usual trend of filmmaking, choosing to direct and produce films that will give his production house a touch of versatility, keeping the audiences hooked. Speaking about his plans for the future, Karan articulated, "First up is Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, followed by 2 States with Arjun Kapoor. It is our first co-production with Sajid Nadiadwala. Then, there's Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor's film by Punit Malhotra. There's also a big-budget film to be directed by Karan Malhotra, who made Agneepath. I will start work on my directorial venture at the end of next year, after which we have another film by Rohit Shetty. 

In the next two years, there will be a big move forward. We may move to a bigger studio space and have more collaborations as far as production is concerned. The road ahead looks exciting!"