Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are two of the biggest names in Hindi cinema and have created magic on-screen in every film they have made together. Karan Johar directed Shah Rukh in his first feature film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, following that with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, then went on to present the actor in My Name is Khan and their excellence as director and actor was cemented.
In this fantastic interview, Karan Johar speaks with Subhash K Jha and celebrates the actor and the man Shah Rukh Khan.
What does Shah Rukh Khan mean to your cinema?
I can’t imagine making films without him, although I’ve done so. Time and again, I’m blown away by Shah Rukh. How can he think of so many things about his character when he has so much on his plate? He did monumental research on his autistic character in My Name is Khan. I was zapped by how much he knew on the subject. And he brought all the knowledge on the sets. He had written reams of notes on how he wanted to interpret his character. And to him, it was no big deal. He’s ready to direct a film any time. He will be outstanding at it. His understanding of human nature and emotions can never be matched by me. There has never been an actor like him.
What does he mean to you personally?
Personally, for me, he’s my God, my hero, and my brother. I don’t have to think about how he’ll play a character. He does all the thinking on his own. The character comes from my heart. And then Shah Rukh takes over. He needs no presentation. His presence is enough. He gives a sub-text, graph, and everything that a character needs. He understands what I want from his performance. And he gives that extra bit by himself. I feel I fail Shah Rukh. When will I give him that one film where I’ll write a role that would do justice to him?
What do you have to say about the infallible Karan Johar-Shah Rukh Khan combination?
I feel two hardworking, talented people are bound to form a productive team. When these two people share a special familial camaraderie there’s bound to be very valuable emotions between them, and those emotions are bound to translate on screen. Shah Rukh and I work so well together because we care so deeply for each other in real life. Creativity compounded with brotherly love cannot go wrong.
Some of his biggest hits are under your direction?
If you ask me, I’m happy piggybacking on his stardom. There can never be an ego between us. I know only too well that he’s successful way beyond what I can ever be. Stars don’t get any bigger than Shah Rukh Khan or Amitabh Bachchan. Once a filmmaker accepts that the ego never comes in the way. I’m happy with the success God has given me. And I’m happy God has given me Shah Rukh to attain that success. There are certain stars who glow much more brightly than others. That’s why they’re called superstars. I’m happy to have worked with two such stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
