KARAN JOHAR
THE DEFINITIVE DIRECTOR…
Karan Johar made his debut at the age of 25 with a film that redefined entertainment not only in India, but to Asians across the world. His directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has been appreciated both critically and commercially in India and all over the world.
After obtaining a degree in commerce, Karan dabbled in various fields trying to find his true calling. His real break came when his childhood friend Aditya Chopra asked him to act as a bouncing board while scripting Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.
Being the son of the respected producer Mr. Yash Johar, it was always assumed that Karan would join the Film Business. However, it was deemed that he would take over the reign from his father and handle the banner, DHARMA PRODUCTIONS. It was the experience that Karan gained in Stage, Drama and Elocution in School and College that held him in good stead and Karan contributed a great deal during the making of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Aditya Chopra recognized the budding talent and encouraged him to write his own script.
Karan spent a year writing his script even as he learnt the ropes of filmmaking by assisting his father in the production of their ongoing film Duplicate. His years as a Fashion Choreographer also came in handy when he decided to contribute in the making of his mentor Mr. Yash Chopra’s Dil to Pagal Hai by doing all the costumes for Shah Rukh Khan.
Karan’s debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released to widespread acclaim and earned Karan Johar prestigious awards for direction, Story, Screenplay and Dialogues. The film also earned awards for the entire principal artistes and technicians.
Karan’s second film was a mammoth, multi-starrer Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (The Indian Family) which released in December 2001. The film has broken box-office records all over the world. Entering the UK charts at No. 3 (December 14th 2001 Weekend), and remaining there throughout the Christams screen battles for a full 4 weeks. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, also holds the prestigious record of being the 1st Indian Film to enter the US charts.
Karan went on to write and produce Kal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Not Be) in 2003. This bittersweet story about life was heartwarming and humorous. The screenplay of Kal Ho Naa Ho has been officially present in the Library of the Oscar Academy of Motion Picture, Art & Science.
After the untimely demise of his father Mr. Yash Johar, in 2005 Karan took charge by producing a thriller KAAL under the banner of Dharma Productions Pvt. Ltd.
With Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK), his third directorial venture, Karan Johar pushes the envelope further by tackling a bold subject of marital discord. The film was release in August 2006. The music of KANK continues to be a top catalogue seller and the film received some critical accolades in the international markets.
In August 2009, Karan Johar signed up with Fox Searchlight Pictures to release his new film ‘My Name Is Khan’. The film will have a worldwide release in February 2010.
SHAH RUKH KHAN
THE HISTORY OF A BOLLYWOOD PHENOMENON
Shah Rukh Khan is not called the Badshah (King) of Bollywood for nothing. At 40, he has attained the rarified level of Super Stardom attained by a handful of actors in the history of Bollywood. It’s been close to over a decade now since Shah Rukh Khan stepped into his first role but he continues to weave his mesmerizing magic on the Bollywood box-office and over a billion Fans. In terms of recognition and fan following he is definitely bigger than the biggest stars of Hollywood, with a Bollywood global audience in excess of 3 bn globally.
If there is one thing that people around the world know about Bollywood, it’s that Shah Rukh Khan is everything that Bollywood stands for and vice versa!
The son of a renowned freedom fighter, Khan took an interest in theatre while in high school and performing in plays soon after graduation. He got his first taste of fame playing the role of an Indian soldier, Abhimanyu, in a tele-serial ‘Fauji’ that took Indian television by storm. Millions of teenaged girls around the country suddenly had a new poster boy, a romantic hero… their own ‘Tom Cruise’.
It was 1995 that proved to be a defining year in his career when ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ became a runaway success and attained cult status amongst the young and old alike. Suddenly, Shah Rukh Khan was the biggest name in Bollywood and India was hit by SRK fever. Crowned the ‘eternal romantic hero’ by his huge fan following, it’s no surprise that DDLJ is still playing in theatres across the country a decade after it’s first release. Shah Rukh Khan followed DDLJ with a string of super successful love stories, including ‘Dil To Paagal Hai’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Mohabatein’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, ‘Veer Zaara’, ‘Om Shanti Om’, ‘Chak De India’ and the recent success ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.
Not content with just working in films for outside productions, Shah Rukh founded his own production company to make the kind of movies he wanted to and there has been no looking back after this.
With the box-office support that Shah Rukh enjoys it’s not surprising that the actor has also won a lot of acting awards. He has won more awards at the Filmfare Awards (the Indian Oscars) than any other Star in the history of Bollywood.
When not ruling on the silver screen, Shah Rukh uses his magic to sell everything from noodles to high-end watches. He was the first A-list actor in Bollywood to consistently endorse products. From Hyundai to TAG Heuer his face and name has launched a 1000 products in India and overseas.
From the boy-next-door to a box-office hero, from a hero to a Star, a superstar and finally a phenomenon-Shah Rukh Khan has come a long way during his decade long stay in Bollywood.