EXCLUSIVE: Karan Johar recalls Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’s bad reviews; remembers watching Lagaan, Gadar & more: “Every film I saw that year I felt was far superior to mine”

Karan spoke about his 25 years in cinema and what it was like working on his second directorial Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham following Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 23, 2023 - 12:15 PM IST

Bollywood Hungama, India's leading entertainment portal, held its 2-day OTT India Fest in Mumbai on October 18-19, 2023. The event features a diverse lineup of panel discussions, fireside chats, masterclasses, and workshops, as well as an awards ceremony to honour the artists from the OTT entertainment industry. The first day of the event commenced with a panel discussion on India's burgeoning OTT landscape, featuring some of the industry's leading experts and decision-makers. Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar, known for his numerous contributions to Indian cinema, spoke about his 25 years in cinema and what it was like working on his second directorial Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham following Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

EXCLUSIVE: Karan Johar recalls Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’s bad reviews; remembers watching Lagaan, Gadar & more: “Every film I saw that year I felt was far superior to mine”

Recalling the 'bad reviews' of K3G, he said, "When you're new nouveau riche, you want to show off. So I was nouveau riche and then I was showing off with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I wanted the biggest cast, the biggest making, and the biggest locations. Everything was a bit larger-than-life; the way I see cinema. I thought I was making the biggest film of the year. Like I thought like, no one should be coming this year with a bigger film because I'm coming with K3G in my own head. It was the biggest life lesson I learned which I will never ever forget. That's the year that grounded me; that's the year that gave me so much stability and gave me a sense of self like nothing else. Because every film I saw that year I felt was far superior to mine."

He added, "I saw Lagaan; I saw Dil Chahta Hai, I saw Gadar, I saw Chandni Bar. And I was like, ‘Oh man, like when I'm coming in December, like all these brilliant movies have come before me, I'm going to get slandered by the critics’. Which I was. I still remember Rajeev Masand’s review and it said ‘old wine new bottle.’ That's what it must have felt like, and I went into depression because after winning all those awards, I won nothing for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I went away somewhere into the mountains in depression. I was mourning a film that was doing incredibly well. But when you get that validation in your first film, and you don't get in your second, even though the box office is doing phenomenally, I don't think at that time I was looking at that. I was looking for individual directorial validation, which I didn't think I got. I think I got it much later on in life for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham."

During the same conversation, Karan said, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’s reviews were bad, I was really upset, and my heart broke. There were some good ones also, but more or less, it was like, ‘What is this, it is just one big song and dance saga, and it's manipulative, and everyone's just crying through the film and it forced patriotism’. I read a lot of stuff like that. But everyone now when they come see, tell me K3G is the best film and their favourite film, and I’m like, life really kind of has, like the last 25 years I feel films have also grown and I think watched by generations.”

The Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest, in association with Cinema Waale Film and Television Productions LLP and Across Media Solutions, held on the 18th & 19th of October 2023 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai were Presented by Sonata Poze, powered by TVS Jupiter and Kheloyar, Driven-by JK Tyre Blaze Rydr, alongside Matchmaking partner Bharat Matrimony, Stylish Audio partner Skullcandy, Banking partner Bank of Baroda, Healthcare partner Fujifilm Healthcare, True Chocolate partner Smoor, Astrology partner Astroyogi, Wellness Partner HCG hospitals, Cricketing Partner Metashot in association with Festival partners Satvik, Snacking partner Special Choice, Outdoor partner Bright Outdoor Media, Radio partner Radio City, and celebration partners Johnnie Walker and Heineken Silver.