'MNIK' is the first global Indian film: Karan Johar

In a candid interview with MSN India, Karan Johar discusses Sena- SRK tiff over 'My Name Is Khan', his love for Twitter, upcoming projects and much more.

Q: Do you think Sena-SRK controversy eclipsed the success of 'My Name Is Khan' (MNIK)? Did the controversy in anyway help the box-office collections?

A: No, I don't think controversy had any impact on the film. The film had great audience support. Initially, say for the first three weeks, we did lose out some business in Maharashtra. But I think audience will eventually watch a film for what it is. They would not get swayed by the controversy surrounding it. Big controversies may help some small films, not a Kajol-SRK starrer. Controversy or no controversy, such films command audience. Nevertheless, we are glad to be out of the controversy.

Q: What could have been the possible reason for SRK-Kajol starrer's domestic box office collection confining itself to Rs 90 crores in the first ten days of release?

A: It is an unusual film. What did people expect? It is a completely different film where the lead actor is autistic and has Asperger syndrome. There are no songs or quintessential mainstream comedy in the film. It is a heavy issue-based film that is saying something strong.

A comparison

It being an issue-based film will show up in its final business and will eventually end up as a very strong figure. In fact, the business 'MNIK' has done in India has been one of my highest in the domestic markets. Of course, if you compare it with other films you may feel it has not done well enough. But then, I never set out to make the biggest hit of the Indian cinema. I never sit and make calculations about my film. I am here just to make a credible film that has a strong message and can reach as many eyeballs as possible.

Q: How different was the association with Fox Star Distribution? How did it help 'MNIK'?

A: It was different because we tapped the untapped markets with Fox. Fox Search and 20th Century Fox, with their wide infrastructure, made us creep into the markets that we haven't explored earlier. With them, we have gone into markets in Middle East where no Hindi film has ever been released before. 'MNIK' is also opening theatrically in Poland, Germany and Russia. We might also do a second international cut in North America. All this is happening only because of our association with Fox.

When we got together with Fox, we wanted 'MNIK' to be the first global film India has ever produced. In fact, this is the first Indian film that has turned global. It is not just a film that has been in India only but we have taken Indian cinema across the globe, put it on the world map and made sure that everyone knows that our quality, content and our soul is unusual, different and is fantastic.

Q: How much has the mainstream Indian cinema changed since your debut film?

A: It is totally changed. I was part of the transition phase when we were transiting from the one syntax of cinema to another. The transition had been fantastic. Today, we are proud filmmakers of unusual content. We are dabbling in all kinds of cinema. We have quintessential mainstream entertainers, fun and frolic films with songs and dance, heavy issue-based films, solid parallel ones with great content and have been making our presence felt in international arenas like film festivals.

We are proud filmmakers doing all kinds of work. We have a defiling perception on day-to-day basis and we are still trying to fight the perception of Bollywood which is song, dance, fun and frolic filmmaking which actually we are very far away from today. I think what we do is done by no one else in the world. From 2001 onwards, Bollywood has only seen turning points with the success of films like 'Lagaan', 'Dil Chahta Hai', the 'Munnabhai' series, 'Rang De Basanti', 'Paa', 'Taare Zameen Par' and 'Black'. I mean, we have had so many great films this decade.

Q: What is the next project that you are working on after 'MNIK'?

A: I have no idea. I think having just delivered a baby, that too caesarean, we need to take at least month off. Otherwise, as a producer, we have 'Dostana 2' directed by Tarun Mansukhani. 'I Hate Love Stories' starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor is a small exemplary date film and is being directed by Punit Malhotra. We also have official adaptation of 'Stepmom' starring Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, in tandem with Sony Pictures.

Q: What drives you as a filmmaker?

A: My films are a reflection of my state of mind. As I grow older things will change and it will show on celluloid.

Q: Are you playing godfather to Bollywood's young and upcoming filmmakers?

A: Godfather and me? Oh no! I am just nurturing young talent within my production house so that I can leverage them time and again.

Q: You are seen to be quite active on Twitter and you recently received an award for the same. What gets you hooked to the Twitter?

A: I think it is a great platform to check your delusional level. All of us have delusions in the movie industry because of which we overestimate our position, talents and ourselves and I think Twitter connects you to everyone across the world. It is a great way of making your feet stick firmly on the ground, a great place to get feedback, great place to connect with the people. Also, sometimes it is a nice platform to express oneself. Sometimes you feel it can be therapeutic, sometimes you feel very strongly about something and you don't know what to do. So you put it up there and feel it is out there in the universe and I like that.

Q: Do you think that the certain aura surrounding the film stars can fade off with their overexposure to social networking sites?

A: Aura died a while ago. With a hundred paparazzi and cameras, three thousand media houses and ten thousand interviews prior to the release of the film there is no aura left. Aura died with Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. Now, what we have are stars without aura.

Q: What would Karan Johar say about ---

A: Love: It is a blend of trust, respect and lust.

Friendship: It is trust and respect without lust.

Family: It is forever.

Cinema: It is forever and ever. It is archived, beautiful and is the reason why I exist.

Karan Johar was in Bangalore to attend 'Obsessions and Obligations' commemorative conversations, which celebrated Tehelka's five years of Outstanding Public Interest Journalism. He was a part of the panel to discuss 'Tradition and Modernity: Is our change only skin-deep?'