Shashat Media at the Marrakech International Film Festival 2025
At the 2025 Marrakech International Film Festival, Shashat Media spoke with Karan Johar about the emotional core of his cinema and the moment in his career that demanded the greatest courage.
When asked how he would pitch the essence of Karan Johar cinema to someone who has never watched a Bollywood film, Johar answered simply. He described his work as larger than life, emotional, and dramatic, rooted in music and dance. For him, these elements are not decoration, but a language of feeling, a way to express love, heartbreak, joy, and connection on a heightened scale.
Johar also spoke openly about vulnerability, a theme he frequently returns to both in his films and in public conversation. When asked which moment in his career required the most courage, he pointed to My Name Is Khan, a film he described as one of the most challenging projects he has ever directed.
The film, he explained, dealt with a man with Asperger’s syndrome and explored the misinterpretation of a religion in a post-9/11 world. Johar said it was essential to approach the story with the utmost sensitivity and emotional empathy.
As a filmmaker known for spectacle and romance, stepping into such serious territory required him to work differently and more carefully than ever before.
Despite the challenges, Johar spoke warmly about the film’s legacy. He said it is remembered very fondly today, and reflecting on it still makes his heart warm. For him, the experience reaffirmed the importance of courage in storytelling, especially when tackling subjects that demand understanding rather than judgment.
At Marrakech 2025, Johar came across as reflective and sincere, balancing the scale and emotion of his cinema with a deep respect for responsibility. His message was clear: vulnerability, when handled with care, can be one of the most powerful tools a filmmaker has.
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Interviews