No competition between Hindi and South cinema; we have to be collective unit: Karan Johar

During the trailer launch of Raj Mehta’s Jugjugg Jeeyo, producer-director Karan Johar mentioned the term ‘Hindi cinema’. Hence, he was asked whether had used this nomenclature to indicate the competition between Hindi and South cinema. 

Johar replied, “When I specified Hindi just now, it was just a function of technicality.” 

Stating that he doesn’t believe in division in Indian cinema, Johar added, “We are proud to be a part of Indian cinema. When RRR (2022), KGF Chapter 2 (2022) and Pushpa (2021) did such amazing business, we can say that it is Hindustani cinema; it is Indian cinema. These films have actually raised the bar of Indian cinema. Prashanth Neel, SS Rajamouli sir and Sukumar have shown us that our standard can be so high.” 

Johar said that he wants films in all languages to do well, including Jugjugg Jeeyo. “Recently a Punjabi film and a Marathi film [Saunkan Saunkne and Dharmaveer] did very well,” he said. “We don’t want any language to be compared to another. We just want to say that we are proud of Indian cinema and we want Indian cinema to keep succeeding.”

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The filmmaker reminded everyone in attendance that he had presented the Hindi version of SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) as he had tremendous faith in the project. “There is no competition in the same industry,” he said. “How can there be? To compete would be completely not servicing the requirement of the entertainment industry. We have to be one collective unit. Rajamouli sir has said so many times that we should be one cinema. The South doing such expansive business in the North is the biggest crossover.” 

Produced by Dharma Productions and distributed by Viacom18, Jugjugg Jeeyo stars Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Kiara Advani and Neetu Singh. The film will be released in theatres on 24 June.