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!"