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!"

Karan Johar’s newcomers taste sweet success with Student of the Year

Karan Johar has recently successfully launched the careers of four promising young actors, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Kayoze Irani, with his new release titled Student of the Year. A campus romance to be precise, the film includes spectacular performances by the young actors, all of who have made their first big-screen appearances with this new Dharma Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment release.

And as expected, the young actors are enjoying the spotlight turned on them. Basking in the success of their first film, Siddharth, Alia, Varun and Kayoze have been soaring high. The actors are tremendously pleased with the response their film and their performances have received. Speaking about the film before its release, Alia stated, “He (Karan Johar) has worked with the best in the industry while neither of us had ever faced the camera before. I have to ensure that he is not let down. There is a pressure of different kind. We all want to make the audience happy as once they accept you, all noises die down". The young actors might have seemed nervous before Student of the Year hit cinema screens but have upped their confidence levels after the film’s success.

"The response has been overwhelming. Having everyone from the film industry congratulate me was a surreal experience. If I try recollecting what Mr Amitabh Bachchan had to say about me, I blank out. I was actually star struck. And when he wrote about me on his site, it felt great," said Kayoze Irani recently, gushing about Student of the Year. In the film, Kayoze’s character, Sudo, narrates the tale of Shanaya (Alia Bhatt), her boyfriend Rohan (Varun Dhawan) and Abhimanyu (Siddharth Malhotra), three students at a school presided over by a gay dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor).

The film released on the 19th of October, 2012.

Karan Johar revisits campus-romances with Student of the Year

Karan Johar has been regularly dishing out one hit film after another. His most recent blockbuster titled Student of the Year stars newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. A campus romance to be precise, the film has been compared to Karan Johar’s first directorial venture, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). While the previous film was set around a love triangle ensuing in a college campus, Karan’s latest portrays a similar triangle of love in a school. But that’s where the similarities end!

The new film revolves around the lives of three students at a prestigious educational academy nestled in Dehradun called the St. Teresa’s High School. Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), the campus sweetheart, has a steady and ongoing relationship with her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the swaggering son of a wealthy industrialist. Things begin to turn around when Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi (Siddharth Malhotra), a middle-class boy enrolls at the school on a sports scholarship. Meticulous and ambitious as ever, Abhi looks to reach the top and quickly turns away the spotlight from Rohan onto himself. As expected, a rivalry begins taking its roots with Rohan and Abhi turning against each other. Their relationship however turns into a bromance after an incident, making Rohan and Abhi the best of friends.

When Abhi falls in love with Shanaya, she reciprocates. However, when her boyfriend Rohan finds out, he fights it out with Abhi, leading to a destroyed friendship. The trio then locks horns as they are pitted against each other in the Student of the Year competition announced by the school’s gay dean played by Rishi Kapoor. Finally, who wins the trophy and who wins Shanaya’s heart makes up for this film’s perfect ending.

The film also includes appearances by Sana Saeed who played the child Anjali in Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. A debut film for actor Boman Irani’s son Kayoze Irani alongside Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, Student of the Year released on the 19^th of October, 2012.

Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan - masters of the big-screen!

Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan together have created magic on screen several times before, with the former directing some of the best received movies starring the latter in the lead. Karan Johar has always been full of praise for his lucky star and good friend Shah Rukh Khan, extolling the superstars work in his films, both produced and directed by Karan Johar. Shah Rukh Khan has on previous account played the lead in all of the films directed by Karan Johar including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), except the director’s most recent film, Student of the Year. The new film instead stars three newcomers in the lead including Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt. Karan has however produced this film jointly with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

Speaking about his debutants and their wish to reach the realm of stardom Shah Rukh Khan basks in, Karan articulated, “These kids want to be like Shah Rukh, I just told them the way Shah Rukh Khan shoots, takes the light, does not fumble even once and controls the camera with his eyes... no one, I repeat no one, can ever do that! There is only one Shah Rukh Khan....” The actor has helped the film’s young star-cast with acting tips too! "During the shooting of 'My Name Is Khan', he (Shah Rukh) came to know that we both wanted to act. I used to give the clap and then sit down. He used to prepare his lines and then suddenly he used to start talking 'You should come early, see the props, touch things and feel them, look at your surroundings'," said Siddharth Malhotra. Varun Dhawan has also previously stated, "He (Shah Rukh Khan) is an institution of acting, the way he functions, the way he goes about his work, you could just learn by looking at him".

Shah Rukh Khan has inspired actors in B-Town since long and will continue doing so as he reins the big-screen with passion alongside his director-producer friend, Karan Johar.

“Age doesn't matter," says Karan Johar’s newbie, Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt has been shot into the realm of stardom with her fabulous and successful debut, Karan Johar’s most recent release titled Student of the Year. The Bhatt girl stars in the film’s lead alongside two more debutants, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan, both of who vie for her attention in this campus romance. The 19-year-old is the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan and hails from a strong filmy background, with Pooja Bhatt for an elder sister.

Being young and a fresher hasn’t kept Alia Bhatt from proving her worth in front of the cameras however. "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," articulates Alia. "I had decided to become an actress when I was much younger. It was a conscious decision. I just didn't know it would happen as soon as I finish my college".

Despite being from one of the most illustrious families in B-town, Alia chose to launch her career with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions instead. If a doctor’s son wants to be a doctor, he’s sent to a medical school to study. In the same way, I want to go out and study acting for myself. If I had started off with my father’s film, it would’ve all been too easy,” says Alia.

And yes, Alia wasn’t handpicked for this Karan Johar directorial venture. Instead, the pretty young actress was required to audition for the film to prove her knack for the big screen. "I had decided that I would not start off with my father's production only because it's an easier option. For this film, I had to work for it, like lose weight, prove myself, etc. There were around 500 girls who had given the auditions along with me."

Catch Alia Bhatt as the campus sweetheart Shanaya Singhania in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year.

A closer look at Karan Johar’s new leading man, Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra would love to go back in time to set his scorecards to a perfect 90% and impress his mom. The lead actor from Student of the Year who has impressed everyone with his debut in the latest Dharma Production, Siddharth was an average student in academics but was bent towards acting and dancing from the very beginning. Born in Surat to an educated family, Siddharth’s father Rajeev Malhotra is a doctor and mother Leena Malhotra is a school principal. Expected to follow in their footsteps and choose engineering as a career, Siddharth instead entered modeling at an early age of 16 year. From there on he went to win the title of Mr. Gujarat in 2007 and the 2^nd runner up award in Gladrags Mega-model & Manhunt contest in the same year.

As an established model he has walked the ramp for famous designers Manish Malhotra & Rohit Bal and appeared in the ad campaign of Roberto Cavelli, apart from being the face on the cover pages of Redbook and Gladrags. Having proven himself as a model, he took over new a role as an assistant director. He chose to learn the traits of the career he wanted to establish himself in. He has also worked as an assistant director in NDTV Good Times and for Karan Johar in My Name is Khan. Siddharth articulated, “The idea was always to turn actor. The way I thought about it was that if I had to be in Hindi films, I had to first learn how to make them. This is the reason why I took on the role of an AD for My Name Is Khan. It wasn’t an easy choice though. I was doing well as a model and knew that as an AD, you could well be treated like a servant. You are required to do all odd jobs, including even wiping the floors. I wasn’t even a chief assistant director; I was just one of those many ADs out there”.

Looks like the tough choice made by the young actor prepared him well, helping him bag a lead role in Karan Johar’s newest movie, Student of the Year!

Student of the Year, a campus love-triangle with a dash of glamour by Karan Johar

Director-producer and reigning head of Dharma Productions, Karan Johar’s movies are synonymous with lots of glamour, larger-than-life characters and more, all sprinkled and tossed with emotions. His most recent release titled Student of the Year sticks to the Karan Johar-movie-making trend and includes fantastical worlds that’ll have you day-dreaming. The film stars newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, who despite their freshness have managed to grab the hearts of audiences in India and internationally. Student of the Year has been declared a blockbuster post its release.

A perfectly glamorous campus romance-drama to be precise, Student of the Year revolves around the lives of three students enrolled at a prestigious school who face the ups and downs of friendship, love and rivalry. Model-turned-actor Siddharth Malhotra plays Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi, a virtuous and self-dependent boy from a middle-class background who enrolls at the esteemed St. Teresa’s High School on a scholarship. At the school, Abhi is torn between the school’s rich and swaggering students and the rest who, like him, hail from middle-class families. As the story proceeds, he befriends Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the wealthy and son of a business tycoon, after an incident that brings them together. Things begin to turn upside down when Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) steps into the picture. In the film, she is seen dating Rohan. That however doesn’t stop her from reciprocating Abhi’s advances. As expected, this causes a rift between Abhi and Rohan.

The trio is then made to compete against each other as they each try their hand at winning the Student of the Year Trophy announced by the gay and disciplinarian school dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor).  Who amongst the three ultimately wins the trophy and Shanaya’s heart is the premise of the rest of this film. 

Rishi Kapoor plays a Gay dean in Karan Johar’s latest!

Breaking away from his chocolate boy days in the era of 70’s and 80’s to an altogether different image, Rishi Kapoor started experimenting with his versatility as an actor by appearing as supporting characters which made an impact in various movies. The latest to showcase the talented actor’s artistic brilliance is his gay character in Karan Johar’s blockbuster movie SOTY. The actor features as a gay Dean who has soft corner on PT Teacher in the campus. Dean Vashisth played by him is an absolute delight and amusing character to watch. His excellent performance has been hugely appreciated and is believed to change the way gays are being portrayed. Speaking on the same Rishi Kapoor says, "Yes, the role is not a caricature in our film. Film characters depend on directors. In Student of the Year, it was a personal take by Karan, the director and Rishi, the actor."

The actor believes the gay characterization in the movie has taken sensitive approach and applauds Karan Johar for his guts to go by his instincts and direct them so well. Giving the credits to the director for all the successful built up of the characters, the actor also shares about is equation with Karan Johar on the sets of Student of the Year, "... as a professional, he can't call me uncle. He could call me Chintu, Chintuji or even Rishi, but I don't believe in this uncle business…. I don't believe in bringing family relations to work. I never called Raj Kapoor papa or daddy on the sets, I called him Saab."

The other characters in the movie played by young faces Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have also received praises from the veteran actor who terms them terrific. He frames them as talented and focused youngsters waiting on the threshold of a big career.

Kayoze Irani’s performance in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year impresses all!

Karan Johar’s most recent release titled Student of the Year has turned the limelight on a host of newcomers. The new film, also Karan’s fifth directorial venture, stars newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film is a campus-romance that follows the lives of the leading trio who play students at a prestigious school.

And launching the careers of Siddharth, Varun and Alia wasn’t all Karan has done with this film. Student of the Year also features actor Boman Irani’s son, Kayoze Irani in an exceptionally well-performed role. Kayoze’s performance in the film has earned him a load of acclaim from the industry, fans as well as critics. "The response has been overwhelming. Having everyone from the film industry congratulate me was a surreal experience. If I try recollecting what Mr Amitabh Bachchan had to say about me, I blank out. I was actually star struck. And when he wrote about me on his site, it felt great," said Kayoze. This is the young and promising actor’s first big-screen appearance and Student of the Year marks his debut with Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt.

Speaking about just how he bagged a role in the film, Kayoze articulated, “I was actually working as an assistant director to Shakun Batra for Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, which was being produced by Karan. One day, he walked up to me and said you're acting in Student of the Year. I was aghast as I'd never thought of myself as an actor and told Karan the same, that I don't know how to act. He just said reassuringly, 'I'm there', adding 'genes bhi kuch rahega na'." And this certainly isn’t the first time Karan has roped in assistant directors working for Dharma Productions. Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan too have worked as assistant directors to Karan Johar for the film My Name Is Khan.                               

Catch Kayoze Irani’s spectacular performance in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year with Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt.

Karan Johar, the magic behind Student of the Year’s success!

Student of the Year has turned the limelight on filmmaker Karan Johar yet again. The film is the director’s fifth directorial venture after including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). The new film starring debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt managed to collect nearly Rs. 35 crore in its first week on cinema screens. The film and its fresh star cast have been received with enthusiasm by movie-buffs lately and as per industry folks, one of the main contributing factors to the film’s success is “brand Karan Johar”!

“The one major difference between Karan Johar and the other directors is that he is still very youthful. His films always have something for the entire family, even in a young and a trendy film like Student of the Year,” stated trade analyst Amod Mehra recently, speaking to the daily Mid Day. Unlike most of his peers, Karan Johar is versatile and multifaceted. The filmmaker has given the world a host of films ranging across genres, all of which have managed to pull in crowds. 

“His films cater to all sections of the audiences and have emotions and fantasy, which is missing from today’s filmmakers who normally walk on the path of realism. The one thing that he never misses is entertainment and larger than life characters with extraordinary music. In Student of the Year, he made this larger than life college, which can never be seen anywhere and the youngsters loved it. The collections are there for everyone to see,” added Mehra.

The film Student of the Year has put the doubts of many skeptics at rest. Despite its newcomer cast, this Karan Johar release managed to catch the attention of many. Catch Student of the Year at a cinema near you today and enjoy Karan’s latest with Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt!

Student of the Year director Karan Johar launches new talent

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions has been doing exceptionally well this year, keeping up the legacy of the production house with multiple hit releases! Besides his directorial ventures, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), Karan has also produced several blockbusters under his Dharma Productions banner. In the bargain, the filmmaker has launched new talent time and again, introducing a new wave of directors to B-town.

Recently, Karan Johar paved the way ahead for directors Karan Malhotra and Shakun Batra, both of who have lived up to the expectations of the filmmaker and his fans with their films Agneepath and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu respectively. Karan has on previous account also launched Nikhil Advani, Tarun Mansukhani and Ayan Mukerji. However, his most recent release titled Student of the Year is a trend-breaker of sorts for the director. Released on the 19th of October, 2012, the film is Karan’s first with newcomers in the lead. The film is also the first film directed by Karan without his lucky charm, Shah Rukh Khan, playing the lead.

Student of the Year marks the debut of Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The three have made their baby-steps in the world of stardom with this film and have received a lot of acclaim for their performances in Student of the Year. “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,” said Karan previously, speaking about his discoveries.

Catch Karan Johar’s latest, Student of the Year, at a cinema near you today!

Karan Johar’s next rumored to star Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor!

It’s been just a few weeks since Karan Johar’s most recent release hit cinema screens. The film, Student of the Year, has been the launch-pad for Karan’s discoveries, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The three have made their Bollywood debut with the film and have received a lot of acclaim for their performances in this Karan Johar project. Now, even as Karan Johar continues to ride high on the success of his fifth directorial venture, rumors of his next have begun surfacing.

The director himself has also spoken about his plans for an upcoming film, based on an idea 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”.

And that’s not all. There have been reports of Karan Johar having signed his close friend and lucky mascot, Shah Rukh Khan, for the film. Apparently, the filmmaker has also roped in Ranbir Kapoor to star alongside Shah Rukh Khan. None of these rumors have been confirmed to be true however, neither by the actors, nor the director. On previous account, Shah Rukh Khan has starred in all the films directed by Karan Johar, leaving aside Student of the Year. Ranbir Kapoor on the other hand has starred in Karan Johar’s productions including Wake Up Sid and the film-in-making, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

As for Karan Johar’s latest, Student of the Year, this campus-romance film has its fresh cast, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, play the roles of students at a prestigious school competing against each other to win a trophy. The film released on the 19^th of October, 2012, and has been doing extremely well at the box office since its release.

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, a big opportunity for Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan

With the recent release of his debut film, Varun Dhawan has taken his first steps to stardom, sharing screen space with newcomers Siddharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt in the Karan Johar film, Student of the Year. The young actor is the son of Bollywood director David Dhawan and the brother of Desi Boyz-director, Rohit Dhawan. Talented and in essence the perfect material for a star in the making, Varun Dhawan is one of the lucky few to be launched by one of B-town’s biggest production houses, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

And as expected, the 24-year-old is ecstatic about his big-screen debut. “To get so much of love from people is surreal. I’m happy that SOTY has done well. But I’m also aware of the fact that I might not get such a big opportunity every time”, says Varun. Being from a family of filmmakers however, Varun chose to be launched from a production house away from home. “My father is a very serious filmmaker. He may have made comedy films, but he takes the art of filmmaking seriously. I’m sure they will offer me a film only when they think I suit the role.” Speaking about Rohit Dhawan, Varun went on to articulate, “I never even thought about bagging the film. My brother Rohit did make me think about it. Also, being a director, he knows the kind of performance Karan wants from his actors and how they need to be up to the mark."

In Student of the Year, Varun plays Rohan Nanda, the attention-deprived son of a business tycoon. Rich and influential, Rohan uses his charm around the campus and is portrayed to be dating Alia Bhatt’s character, Shanaya Singhania.

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year with Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt released on the 19th of October, 2012, and is currently soaring high at the box office!

Karan Johar breaks free from the clutter with his campus-romance, Student of the Year

For Karan Johar, filmmaking has always been more than just a business. After having directed a bunch of successful films including 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 producing several more, the director-producer and chief of Dharma Productions continues to be passionate about his trade. Quoting Karan Johar from a recent interview, “My work is my lifeline. My films move me and I don’t have a life besides my movies. They are my primary passion.”

For Karan Johar, following a trend set in Bollywood isn’t the best way to go about. Instead, he chooses to stay clear of the clutter and draw out films unlike any that have been rolled out before. “I am driven only by my instinct. I don’t go by what is happening around. If remakes are being made, that does not mean I will also make one. Or just because masala action films are working, does not mean I will make one. I make what I believe in and hope to achieve the best with it. I don’t follow a norm or go by trends. I make what motivates me,” says Karan.

His newest film simply goes to reflect the fact that this Bollywood bigwig prefers the non-conformist way. Unlike most filmmakers today who rope in superstars in an attempt to draw in the crowds, Karan Johar has casted three newcomers for his latest release titled Student of the Year. The director’s movie-making style is synonymous with lots of glamour and extravagance, and his campus romance starring debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt includes it all.

In the film, Siddharth, Varun and Alia play the roles of three students at a prestigious school presided over by a gay dean (played by Rishi Kapoor) who compete against each other to win the school trophy, putting their relationships at stake.

Catch Karan Johar’s Student of the Year at a cinema near you today!

Student of the Year: Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt’s romantic debut

The recently released Student of the Year film is, to be precise, every teenager’s fantasy. Directed by Karan Johar, this film is an extravagant campus romance with lots of glamour and eye-candy. Starring three fresh-faces, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, the film also has appearances by debutants Kayoze Irani (actor Boman Irani’s son) and Sana Saeed who played the little Anjali in Karan Johar’s first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The film also stars veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and television stars Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy.

The film is set against an esteemed fictional school in Dehradun called St. Teresa’s High School. Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi (Siddharth Malhotra), a boy from a middle-class background, enrolls at the school on a sports scholarship. Competitive and a born leader, he carves a place for himself amongst the school’s rich and effluent students as well as the less-wealthy ones. At the school, he befriends Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the neglected son of a wealthy business tycoon. Desperate to seek his father’s attention, Rohan finds comfort in his friend ship with Abhi, though the two clash in the beginning. The two best friends however fall apart when Abhi falls in love with Shanaya Singhania, the center of attraction, despite knowing Rohan to be her boyfriend.

The three protagonists are then pushed to compete against each other as they join the prestigious Student of the Year competition, each fighting for a chance to win the trophy to prove their selves. The school and the competition is presided over by the school’s gay dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor), who in turn nourishes a soft corner for the school’s sports coach played by Ronit Roy.

Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt’s debut, Student of the Year, is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. Catch this recently released film at a cinema near you!

Karan Johar: One in a million indeed!

Filmmaking is an art not many have successfully mastered. However, when it comes to director-producer Karan Johar, rolling out blockbusters time and again comes naturally. Heading his own production house Dharma Productions, one of the biggest in Bollywood, Karan Johar has carved a mark for himself in the world of filmmaking. Passionate and completely in love with movies, Karan Johar has won a load of acclaim from fans, his peers and the industry as a whole for his fool-proof film-making trends.

Karan, the son of the late filmmaker Yash Johar, was born in Mumbai and completed his education at the HR College of Commerce and Economics. He later assisted Aditya Chopra in the making of the film ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, a move that introduced him to the subtle art of directing movies. From there on, Karan Johar went on to unveil bestselling movies, beginning with the 1990 hit ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. Besides this, Karan has also directed the films Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), with his most recent movie, Student of the Year starring Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt hitting cinema screens recently.

And that’s not all. His production house has produced several more films and launched a bunch of new directors. Karan Johar is synonymous with glamour and panache, a fact that is portrayed in all of his films. The director also tends to include larger-than-life characters in his films, giving viewers a fantastical experience unlike any other. A crafter of dreams indeed, the 40-year-old director has dedicated the best of his years to making movies.

As for Karan’s latest film Student of the Year, the director has breathed life into his campus-romance dream, roping in newcomers Siddarth, Varun and Alia to play the lead. The film revolves around a love triangle set in an extravagant school in Dehradun. Student of the Year also includes appearance by television actors Ronit Roy and Ram Kapoor with veteran actor Rishi Kapoor playing a gay school dean.

Catch Karan Johar’s Student of the Year at a cinema near you!

Student of the Year director Karan Johar in love with filmmaking

Karan johar

Being one of the most eligible bachelors in town isn’t easy, particularly when you’re a successful filmmaker who regularly steals hearts with his films. Dharma Productions chief has been pestered time and again to spill the beans on his relationship status and his plans to tie the knot. Now 40 and at the prime of his career, Karan Johar however has shown no inclination towards anything of the sort. He continues to profess his undying love for filmmaking. Quoting Karan, "I just want to make films... My office has become my family. People who work in my office have become my world. I really don't feel the need for anyone."

Known for his romantic and glamorous films, Karan Johar has expressed his thoughts on bachelorhood before, preferring to be single and give his full-hearted attention to what he does best, making films! "My mother is the most happy that I am not married, as she does not need to share her jeweler with anyone," jokes Karan. More often than not however, the director chooses to remain tight-lipped about his personal relationships. “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.”

That however doesn’t keep him from stating that he does hope to find love eventually and nurture a relationship. “I hate walking into an empty bedroom at night. There're large lonely moments. Fortunately, I've the best relationship possible with my mother. That makes up for every relationship I don't have. Of course, I'd love to be in a relationship. But it has to be one I completely believe in," says Karan Johar.

His latest release titled Student of the Year is a campus romance starring Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film hit cinema screens on the 19th of October, 2012, and has been giving the box office a hay day since its release.

Student of the Year: Karan Johar’s fifth is a glamorous campus-romance!

Campus-romances and dramas revolving around the lives of youngsters are crowd pullers to say the least and Karan Johar’s recent release titled Student of the Year has been drawing in youngsters and the aged alike. Starring newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, this film also includes appearances by veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, television stars Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy with debutant Kayoze Irani (actor Boman Irani’s son) and Sana Saeed who played a child artist in Karan Johar’s first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Student of the Year is set in the fictional St. Teresa’s High School in Dehradun. In the film, Siddharth Malhotra plays Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi, an athletic middle-class boy who enrolls at the prestigious school on a sports scholarship. At the school, he meets Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the son of a business tycoon. Despite their different backgrounds and attitudes, the two become the best of friends. As the film proceeds, Abhi naively falls in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), disregarding the fact that her boyfriend Rohan is his friend. This causes a rift between Abhi and Rohan whose friendship turns into a bitter enmity as they each try to win Shanaya’s heart.

Amidst the ensuing love triangle, the school’s gay dean Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor) announces the Student of the Year Trophy. Abhi, Rohan and Shanaya then lock horns as they each try their hand at winning the esteemed school title for their own personal reasons. The film takes interesting twists and turns that will keep you hooked and is complete with Karan Johar’s signature glamour and extravagance.
An enjoyable coming-of-age story, Student of the Year has its leading trio party hard, drive fast cars and compete in athletic events, all set against a glorious school campus unlike any you’ve stumbled across before. The film is produced jointly by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and released on 19th October.