'I wasn't pompous. I was snobbish'
He is 36 years old and a well-established filmmaker with hits like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. But despite the accomplishments Karan Johar is awestruck when he meets his favourite stars.
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: So, you are now 36!
A: Do you have to remind me? Last year I remember telling you L'Oreal was helping me look younger. This year I cannot reveal the name of the product I'm using to look younger. I can't endorse a product. It's about the money, you see. But there're lots of products going into keeping the illusion of eternal youth alive. What do I say to you about turning 36? I'm shattered. I can't believe I'm inching towards 40.
Q: But life begins at 40, remember?
A: It's the biggest lie about age. Let me tell you, life does not begin at 40. It's an illusion created by those who can't accept they're going old. I accept I'm no longer a teenybopper. I'm older and hopefully wiser.
Q: Has the film industry made you wiser?
A: It has toughened me. I don't know if I'm around too many wise people to judge my wisdom. I only pray I'm not making the wrong decisions.
Q: Well, you seem to be making all the right moves.
A: I'm making all the right noises. My endeavour right now is to expand my production house. The past year has been a really busy time for me. I've been doing everything except directing a film. That's what I'm going to do now.
At heart I remain an excited child who's been given a toy called cinema. I'm awestruck with the place I've been given in the film industry. Even today when I meet a star I admire, I still feel awestruck. I'm still a star-struck child, though I try hard to hide it. Every time I sit across Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, I've to pinch myself.
Q: In spite of your own success?
A: That evaporates from my head when I'm with these stars. Though one part of me says I deserve it, I still remain rooted to reality. That's something I can't help. My father (producer Yash Johar) was the epitome of humility. He was unbelievably humble. He taught me to not let success or failure conquer me, to just do my work.
Q: You used to be a pompous child?
A: I wasn't pompous. I was snobbish. I was complex about various things, including my weight. It was a bad cover-up job. If today I'm so gregarious, it's because I've overcome my complexes. Today I'm very happy to interact with as many people as possible. I can't say my life is an open book. There're chapters that I don't want anyone to read.
Q: Really?
A: Oh yes, let me tell you I've many secrets. I can't call them just skeletons. They're full bodies in my closet.
Q: You continue to go all out for Shah Rukh. Recently, you came back all the way from Miami to attend Shah Rukh's first IPL (Indian Premier League) match. You even postponed your own film to accommodate Aditya Chopra's film with him.
A: Yes, but isn't that a given in any true friendship? These are things I do without thinking for people I love. And Shah Rukh is much more than a friend. He's my family, a father figure. When he walks into a room, I stand up. I respect him. In fact, I'm petrified of him and he knows it. He's not my back slapping buddy. His wife Gauri is my friend. She's the one I say 'Oh shut up' to. Even in my wildest dream I can't imagine saying shut up to Shah Rukh.
Q: Do you miss that one special person to share your bed with?
A: Last year when I spoke about this, Farah Khan made fun of me. I'm lonely and single. But I'm looking for love. I've lots of romance in my heart. And I'm waiting for some of it to happen to me this year. I've a whole encyclopaedia of romance imbibed from Yash uncle's cinema waiting to erupt from my heart. Not that I want to run into green valleys and get wet in the rain. But I do look forward to the right person in my life. I know I'll find love very soon.
