Renowned filmmaker Karan Johar, adored for his charismatic presence and distinguished work in the Bollywood cinema landscape, engaged in a candid dialogue revealing his personal weariness of the ritualistic special screenings for industry insiders, labeling the experience as ‘traumatic’. Karan Johar’s eclectic filmography is rightfully celebrated, his most recent directorial success being the eagerly embraced “Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahani”. Frequently capturing the interest of the public and media alike, Johar’s latest comments emerge from an in-depth interview dropping light on the internal dynamics of film screenings within the industry.
During a recent interaction with Galata India, the “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” director disclosed his rather candid thoughts about the customary pre-release displays of films to peers. Johar expressed his confusion and dismay towards the ‘trial shows and previews’, often resulting in the coldest receptions a film could receive even before its public release. Johar contemplates the authenticity of such screenings as he ponders over their necessity, advancing the idea that the sincere judgment of a movie comes from paying audiences who attend viewings with a hopeful heart rather than a critical eye.
Johar’s description painted a vivid picture of the stifling environment, particularly emphasizing the hollow congratulations and veiled disingenuousness that he has frequently encountered. Johar, with humor-infused frustration, recalled incidences where colleagues would approach with opaque feedback or hold off any comments until later, leaving the creator in a state of apprehensive anticipation. He depicted the scenario of an artist desperate for any form of earnest appreciation, yet instead facing a cohort of critics, some opting for a detrimental honesty mere hours before a film’s debut in the theatres.
Elevating his critique to a broader introspection, KJO, as he’s fondly known, addressed the paradox within the industry, where genuine acclaim is overshadowed by the haste to critique, even when a creation is on the cusp of greeting its audience. Johar also touched upon the silent evaluators, those who choose not to divulge their impression but rather postpone it ominously, instigating further anxiety for the filmmaker.
Johar’s recent musings also encompassed admiration for the work of fellow industry titan, Ranbir Kapoor, in his upcoming film ‘Animal’. Johar underscored the necessary bravery required to publicly endorse a peer’s work, where the omnipresent fear of judgment acts as a suppressant for genuine praise within the circuit.
Having directed a total of seven films to date, Johar’s voice is significant in the Bollywood fraternity. “Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahani” stands as his latest contribution to the silver screen, starring revered actors Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh. Johar’s trajectory in cinema is proof of his dedication to the art form and his influence within the industry.
Industry insiders continue to contemplate the comments made by Johar, which peels back the veneer on one of show business’s less-discussed aspects. The question remains whether industry screenings serve their intended purpose or if they have become a counterproductive tradition, more focused on critique than constructive feedback. As the conversation around these ‘traumatic’ experiences unfolds, filmmakers, actors, and producers alike may begin reassessing this long-standing practice of the industry screening.
With this latest revelation, Karan Johar not only sheds light on the trials faced by filmmakers behind closed doors but also ignites a discourse on whether the culture of critique within the industry should be reevaluated to encourage collaboration and support, rather than inadvertently nurturing an atmosphere of insecurity and pretense.
