The latest episode of Koffee with Karan season 5 was a scintillating treat for film lovers and filmmakers. Featuring directors Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, and Kabir Khan, it was a nice change to watch Karan Johar go toe-to-toe with his peers discussing serious filmmaking. From critical review, production problems and filming songs, the directors gave some insight into the fascinating way their creative minds function.
The craze of the 'box office'
With three directors who have delivered some of the most popular films of recent times, it was no surprise that the show began with the question of different content doing well at the box office. It was quite the revelation when Kabir revealed: "It feels good to see these films do well at the box office. Because, ultimately if a good film gets good box office figures, then people allow you to go a step further."
Zoya claimed, "I watched Neerja, which I absolutely loved." But there was no love lost for Dangal, which she 'really, really liked.' The director also put an emphasis on Sairat, the film which shook up the Hindi film industry and put a rejuvenated Marathi cinema on the map.
Ali added, "There is a lot of experimentation that is happening in the mainline commercial film, it is not only the so-called small films doing this.Things are changing (sic)."
The 'song' dilemma
It is surprising that Zoya was quite hesitant when it came to the question of songs in her films. While Ali and Kabir were on the same page regarding the need for songs in Hindi cinema, Zoya mentioned that she sought out authenticity to put songs in. Johar mentioned how Zoya is often traumatised when it comes to shooting 'lip sync' songs. In her defence, Zoya said, "I wanted to do something that felt much more organic. It was set in the street, a street party, which suddenly builds up into a number. I am like what am I going to do." The only reason she agreed to the song, Senorita, was that the actors sang it themselves adding the required realism to the scene. It was Ali who admitted, "I love songs, and I can't really do without them."
The Reject Club
As for the best actor, it was pretty simple that Ranbir Kapoor was the clear choice for his performance in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The best actress was a tie between Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor, with Bhatt pipping Kapoor to the post with Ali's vote. In Ali's defence, he hasn't seen 'Neerja'.