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Karan Johar admits he's nepotistic and doesn't care if you think that too

Karan Johar admits he's nepotistic and doesn't care if you think that too

In a column, the director penned down how he can't help the way the industry works and that audiences are also to blame
30 Mar, 2017

Kangana Ranaut called out Karan Johar for nepotism on his show Koffee with Karan last month, and even after a rebuttal, Johar has yet to live it down.

Yesterday, he penned down his thoughts in a column for NDTV and openly admitted to exercising nepotism, claiming that Bollywood is not running a social service.

"I agree and I accept that nepotism is a reality, that it exists," he writes.

"Nepotism is a result of easy access to an exceptional resource. I acknowledge that my father was a producer and that made my first film, even the idea of it, possible. But let's also not forget that I started as the son of a producer with five failures behind him. I entered the world of films as AD (Assistant Director) to a first-time director (and yes, it wound up being DDLJ, but we didn't know that then!). But still, even if I didn't recognize it as access at the time, that's what it was."

Also read: Highlights from Sharmeen Obaid's chat with Karan Johar, including his take on Fawad Khan

However, his acknowledgment of being nepotistic comes unapologetically.

He further explains why he favours children who hail from Bollywood families... because everyone else just isn't talented enough.

"When it came to Alia, I wasn't even talking to Mahesh Bhatt! I've even gone on record saying we had issues. We had auditioned 5,000 people and she was one of them. If there was anyone better than Alia Bhatt, she would have been in the movie, but there wasn't. She just stood out. Maybe her name played a role in why, but I think her body of work already proves that's not it," he wrote.

"Currently we're auditioning for Student of the Year 2 and we're not finding anyone! I swear the only girls who are not bad are those with a connection. I don't know why or how because we've tried everything to find a girl from Bangalore, from Delhi, but we can't make it happen! And everyone will call me nepotistic. Again!"

KJo added that he didn't necessarily only work with star kids.

"I have also launched Sidharth Malhotra who has nothing to do with anyone, but why bother mentioning that! And, by the way, Kangana has done a Dharma film. We have offered roles recently to Nawazuddin Siddiqui and to Irrfan Khan which they have turned down! And that's fine, I hope we'll be able to work together later."

He also clarified that he is not running a charity: "We're not NGOs! We are businesses with bottom lines and budgets. And tomorrow if I want to launch Shah Rukh Khan's son because he's Shah Rukh Khan's son and I believe I can gain from it, why won't I? I run a company, it's a balance of commerce and art, and both matter."

Yep, we feel you girl!
Yep, we feel you girl!

Having said that, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai director urged the audience to do some self-reflection.

"While we’re on the subject, may I point out that while we can (and have) put the star onscreen, we cannot make the audience arrive. So if it is a nepotistic world, we’re not the only ones guilty of it. Taken a look at any entertainment website recently? They’re full of star kids. It’s all about Sara (Ali Khan) and Jhanvi (Kapoor) and Aryan (Khan) and Aarav (Kumar). They step out and they’re photographed, they’re the ultimate clickbait.”

This "If I am to blame, you are to blame" approach just goes to show that the filmmaker still doesn't get it.

Comments

divergence Mar 30, 2017 06:49pm
Obviously bollywood is just another world that is out of this world and these so called kings and queens of movies ( not in touch with whatever goes on in a bollywood movie) live in their stardom.
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anees khan Mar 30, 2017 07:28pm
priest son can nit be priest at all....i have found many self made artists like shah rukh ,akhsay etc ordinary indian kids must not despair as money can not buy any thing especially talent..
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Usman Mar 30, 2017 07:35pm
It's funny (and sad) how these 'celebrities' with no moral compass set the moral standards for the people through their 'art'
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Adeeb Mar 30, 2017 07:45pm
So you can justify the bad things because you are doing that too and take it as a reality?
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Jam Mar 30, 2017 07:52pm
I lost all interest in him when he promised not to cast any Pakistani actors in his movies
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naeem malik Mar 30, 2017 08:03pm
no wonder the whole nations standard has come so far down, when you look up to india and bollywood, who are just copy masters of every thing, what about our own rich culture?
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kerala Mar 30, 2017 08:06pm
Bollywood is not an NGO for charity. Good to hear that.But please clarify whether karat Johan films are for cultural exchange and aman kind asha programme .I'm sure he will beat around the bush for that part.
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MJ Khan Mar 30, 2017 08:26pm
Nepotism is ingrained into south asian society. This is because of heredity principles that one's kid has to inherit or follow parent's footsteps. In western society they disown their kids after 18 and select people based on merit. Here parents keep cajoling their kids and make them sit on their heads for entire life.
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SATT Mar 30, 2017 08:36pm
Don't worry Indian film industry is going to be go out of Bombay.
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Anjali Mar 30, 2017 08:56pm
A refreshingly honest statement of facts, as they are, from Karan Johar. He has nothing to apologize for.
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Ramana Mar 30, 2017 09:06pm
Lame!
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Masood Mar 30, 2017 09:32pm
He is absolutely correct and frank about the issue. Movie making is a business and the producer, director want to see a financial return for their work and agony. You only go to the best physician, surgeon, you only go to the best restaurant, hotel, you only buy the best possible car or motorcycle. So why this discrimination with movie making business?
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sohail Khan Mar 30, 2017 10:26pm
No wonder current generation of Bollywood stars is way behind the previous generation. And don't tell us Mr. Karan you can't find good actors/actresses in India other than these decorated families.
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Shahid Mar 30, 2017 11:34pm
@MJ Khan Believe me, I have seen a lot of nepotism in western corporate culture also but it is just not as open as in South Asian societies.
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Ram K Chopra Mar 31, 2017 03:05am
A very thoughtful article. Thanks Karan for taking the time and the risk. Nepotism is everywhere, note Trump daughter & son-in-law, Bush family, Kennedy family and there are many more. In India and Pakistan however, nepotism is valued significantly more by the masses. Intellectual classes, educated people, rich people, people from autocratic classes and of course news media and opinion makers need to step up and educate people and help them understand the difference between good and bad candidates. No businessman can afford to risk his fortune just for nepotism. No politician can afford to risk his future just for nepotism. Calculated risks yes but nothing more. Karan thanks once again to show us the logics and reasons behind what is going on in the real world. And Kangana Ranaut to remind us nepotism does not exist only in politics and among the politicians.
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Ruby Mar 31, 2017 04:43am
Seriously?! He auditioned 5000 people and could not find anyone who can act better than Alia Bhatt?! May be he should be auditioned first for his art.
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Asif A Shah Mar 31, 2017 05:32am
Nepotism and class based favoritism is a reality of life, however, we should not accept it with complacency. Nevertheless, I admire Karan Johar's candid statement that he is not running an NGO and he has to take into account various factors with the ultimate goal of making money.
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natey Mar 31, 2017 05:38am
hes correct...media run after celebrity kids when they turn 18..then they become famous n director will cast them to cash in...
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madan bhatia Mar 31, 2017 06:02am
A true admission of nepotism by Karan Johar.We would not ,perhaps,have an opportunity to know who are Karan Johar's favourite stars suitable for his show but for Kangana's outspoken views.She is well known for her views on any matter related to Bollywood.
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Rp Mar 31, 2017 08:19am
I think he is being very honest about it - he nailed it at the end, public wants to see the stars and their kids in films and a film becomes an instant successes if it gives the public what public wants. If any of us commenting here, were to produce a film, wouldn't our first goal would be the success of the film? So we will give roles to actors who will make the film an instant success - this is what he is saying. In addition, kids of the stars and producers are born in that environment and naturally learn acting and producing traits even without trying they get such a huge dose of these traits day in and day out. If I were a producer as his father was, why wouldn't I bring my son into my business as his dad did? Don't we all do that? A meat-wala will bring his son to work with him if the son is available and can not do anything better. How is that different from film making. After all, as he said, film making is not always a charity work - not even for Disney world!
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MHamza Mar 31, 2017 09:10am
He is trying to say "KANGANA was right but i dnt care" :/
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INDIAN Mar 31, 2017 10:12am
From dilip kumar Amitabh to shahrukh Akshay. priyanka Deepika katrina Aishwarya all are from non film back ground if you see carefully people with non film background becomes bigger star
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TANVEER HASAN Mar 31, 2017 10:16am
I agree with Karan.
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INDIAN Mar 31, 2017 10:19am
He auditioned 5000 and got no one better than aalia hahhahaha go to theater actors there are 5000 times better than aalia and all yes they might not give that extra publicity as they are not related to some film stars but if you prefer commerce over art aalia is what you get.its not balance it's a imbalance heavily tilted towards commerce yes you don't run a charity. Then why you expect treatment like an artist
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KT Mar 31, 2017 10:21am
Karan well I admire you for the unique personality who has well defined parameters of success. All that I wish to convey is fact that if you cant find your cast then go for abroad auditions. Remember famous SRK dialogue from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna " If you wont find you wont get " There will be critics forever with their own conclusions.
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bharat Mar 31, 2017 12:30pm
Karan deserves full credit for his success and humble attitude. His father had made many flop films with top stars. Many other star sons and daughters are very mediocre and have not succeeded at all. Karan has given record number of hits and is still very open to criticism about him. Most people are just jealous of his tremendous success and giving hits one after the other. Go Karan.
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Simba Mar 31, 2017 12:46pm
@Ruby agree completely. If he could not find a better actor than Alia Bhatt amongst the 5000 auditioned actors, he seriously needs a crash course on acting (as much as Alia does!)
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syedchaudhrygangadinkhan Mar 31, 2017 04:06pm
Bottom line is that Kangana told him off. That has bruised his ego and that's a good thing. Bollywood is not a personal property of any one. On this, public is with Kangana.
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Abdul Rehman Apr 01, 2017 10:33am
there is a need of courage to introduruce new talent, The filmmakers like karan johar should give chances to new talent, there are a lot of superstars who had no filmy background but they got a great status, Such as Sharukh khan he is not the son of an actor or film maker but considered the most populer actor of bollywood of all time.
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DIPAK SINGHAM Apr 01, 2017 12:14pm
@MHamza excactly!!!
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Adeeb Apr 03, 2017 03:40am
What would one expect from asomeone who is also a product of nepotism.
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