Karan speaks on My Name Is Khan

What happens when your sensitive director-friend makes a film with you and finally, the film reaches the wrap-up stage? You break down and cry. At least that is what Karan Johar and his friend Kajol do every time they make a film together. It happened in every other film set – from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Kal Ho Na Ho – and may happen in My Name Is Khan also. More so�about the latter which is said to contain a touching love story involving an autistic Shahrukh Khan.

Let critics say what they please.�Karan is bent on breaking 'his kinda' films to explore horizons new to him. My Name Is Khan, scripted by Shibani Bhatija, is one such out-of-comfort-zone film for Karan Johar. It narrates the tale of Rizwan Khan, an autistic patient with limited social interaction abilities. And who is this Rizwan Khan? None other than King Khan of Bollywood! So has Karan bid bye to his sentimental, dramatic, song-dance family dramas? In a way, yes! But romance is still on the cards and at the soul of My Name Is Khan is a tender love story.

Commenting on the romance quotient in the film, Karan says, “How can I not have romance in my films? Every filmmaker has to evolve at some time. I wanted to make a film in the realm outside my comfort zone. And Shibani Bhatija came up with this mind-blowing script that challenged my abilities.”

With SRK and Kajol in the lead roles and an awe-inspiring script, Karan thought things were falling into place. To his surprise, SRK decided to co-produce the film with him. Ask the Baadshah of Bollywood why he is co-producing the film, you get a tongue-in-cheek reply: “Karan doesn’t want to pay me what others do, which is very little, so he said, ‘I can’t underpay you like this, so you be my partner.’ That’s how we are jointly producing this film.”

Put the same question to the director and co-producer, you get a different answer: “It’s true, I can never put down his price on paper. But considering we both were passionate about the subject, we said why not co-produce the film? We have been together for so long that this new initiative is just an extension of our emotions. Besides, I can never make a film without Shahrukh. He is a big part of me and my family. He is like the elder brother I never had. I love SRK as an unit — that includes his wife, children, sister and his in-laws.” Well said. By the way, 'unit' SRK, who is recuperating from shoulder surgery, will join My Name Is Khan unit�by the end of this month.

Karan, who is still feasting on his Dostana's success (directed by Tarun Manuskhani), has three more films lined up for release this year. They are Wake Up Sid by Ayan Mukherjee, animation film Koochie Koochie Hota Hai, and an untitled film by Renzil D'Souza. On trying new directors instead of established ones, Karan says, “I am giving new directors a chance, and I am open to good scripts as well. Being in the mainstream, it gives production houses like ours an edge to reach a wider audience. We are getting progressive in our thoughts. It’s time to move forward.” Way to go, Karan!