On the occasion of Guru Purnima, filmmaker Karan Johar penned a note expressing gratitude to the two people who shaped his journey in cinema – filmmaker Aditya Chopra and superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Sharing two throwback photos, Karan reflected on the conversations that changed the course of his life and career.
Recalling how Chopra convinced him to step into filmmaking, Karan revealed that he was planning to leave for further studies when Aditya asked him to assist on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. More importantly, Aditya told him that he was meant to become a director, a belief that Karan himself hadn’t fully embraced at the time.
KJo wrote, “Two conversations were life changing for me…One was at 1am in the morning when Adi asked me to assist him on DDLJ ( I was about to leave for my further studies )… he told me I had to be a director … I was melodramatic and filmy and the only thing I needed was an interval because I was always on a treadmill ( not the ones gyms are famous for ) … he said if I didn’t pursue this path I would be making a huge mistake … I couldn’t sleep that night and then in my true filmy self… I went dramatically to my father the next morning and asked him for a year of my life…. A year on a film set …. He looked at my moist eyes ( looked like tears but was actually just lack of sleep and a developing stye) and said “beta … will you know what to do on a set ? “ …. I said an emphatic NO…. He asked … “ Will you promise to work very hard and follow every instruction ? “…. He said… “ that will make you a producer …. To be a director you need only and only Passion”…
Passionate I was but wasn’t sure anyone would believe me at that point…. only Adi did… only him…”
The filmmaker then looked back at another pivotal moment, this time with Shah Rukh Khan, who promised to star in his directorial debut even before Karan had made a film. He recalled how the actor kept his word and became one of his biggest supporters.
He continued, “My next conversation was with Bhai @iamsrk on a hill top in Switzerland … I was looking at the mountains ( pretending to be home sick and seeking sympathy ) he came to me and said “ tu director banega and teri pehli film main karoonga”… i thought to myself … he’s probably low on oxygen and may not completely know what he’s saying … But he was serious and followed up with my father as we got back to India … my father ( who was mildly hard of hearing ) wasn’t sure either ….
But Srk was serious… he believed in me for a reason I can’t quite comprehend even today … ( just like Adi did ) I love you Adi and Bhai… I am here with my strengths and flaws….my ups and downs … my wins and my losses … only and only because of the both of you …. You both are the only reason I can tell stories today”
Concluding the post, Karan wrote, “#happygurupurnima … and a big shout out to every guru who has paid it forward and created careers for others …selflessly….. ” Karan Johar’s association with Aditya Chopra began on the sets of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995, where he worked as an assistant director and also made a cameo.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan has been Karan’s longest-standing creative collaborator. SRK headlined Karan’s directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and the duo later collaborated on films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, My Name Is Khan, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, in which SRK made a brief appearance.
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