Karan Johar has been under the cosh ever since Kangana Ranaut accused him of 'nepotism' on his television show Koffee With Karan. The duo have since traded verbal volleys, but Johar had recenty suggested he will cease to talk about nepotism. The ‘N’ word though resurfaced at the Indian School of Business Leadership Summit 2017 at Gachbowli, Hyderabad.
Karan Johar says he suffers from 'nepo-spasm'
Johar was interviewed by exhibitor Akshay Rathi, where the Dharma Productions' head honcho admitted to be a product of nepotism.
“I might be a product of nepotism but I used the opportunity to do my best rather than just milk it. I hope to start a film school that teaches grassroot filmmaking to students who do not have the opportunities,” he said.
2017 has been year where only content-oriented films have worked, with superstars like Salman Khan (Tubelight) and Shah Rukh Khan (Raees, Jab Harry Met Sejal) enduring box office failures. While small content orientated films like Hindi Medium, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Lipstick Under My Burkha have received all around acclaim.
Johar was asked whether the Hindi film industry had finally moved on to content-oriented films to which he replied, “The script decides the success of a movie and not the presence of big stars." He also added that the studio system was going through a dark phase.
The 45-year-old filmmaker, who distributed both the Baahubali films in Hindi, also praised south Indian cinema. “There is conviction in South Indian films that is lacking in Bollywood (Hindi film industry). Cinema is not supposed to be reality but a dream world," Johar said.
The Hindi version of Baahubali: The Conclusion alone made over Rs510.36 crore nett.