Dostana: Karan Johar's next movie

Filmmaker Karan Johar's next movie is a tribute to his late father.

He has decided to name his next production - Dostana - after the 1980 blockbuster of the same name made by his father, Yash Johar.

The story is set in Miami and Karan's assistant - Tarun Mansukhani - will start shooting it, this summer.

Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra lead the glamorous cast.

Says Karan, "Tarun Mansukhani's brilliant script (about friendship between two guys played by Abhishek and John) is funny, sassy, and hilarious!"

Karan gets nostalgic about the title.

"When my father produced Dostana in 1980, he was going through hard times. But all the three principal actors - Amit uncle (Bachchan), Shatrughan Sinhaji and Zeenat Aman - co-operated to the fullest. That's how the film was made."


So is the new Dostana a love triangle like the old one?

"Ha! Well, yes and no. All I can say on record is that, we've never had a love triangle like this before, and, you'll never see Abhishek and John playing something like this again," says Karan.

He's also relieved that, there was no title hassle this time.

"For Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, I had to ask Aroona Irani aunty. She sweetly gave me the title in exchange for a kiss! For Dostana, I had to kiss nobody, except my father's memory."

Karan Johar in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion

Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, starring Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut, has gained two new cast members, Karan Johar and Harsh Chhaya.

Karan will be playing himself only, and Harsh has signed on to play one of the lead characters, who is a gay.

The film, as the title suggests, is set amid the fashion industry and will take a look at the darker side of that glamorous world.

A source said, "Madhur was trying to convince Karan, he has finally agreed to do the role. Karan Johar will play a special character in Fashion. They are scheduled to start shooting very soon.

Along with KJo, several other notable designers and personalities will have appearances as themselves, including Wendell Rodricks, Rohit Bal and Dolly Thakore."

With each new cast addition and story that comes out, Fashion becomes even more intriguing!

Stay tuned in!

Karan Johar to endorse Timond Watches

After Britain based luxury brand Alfred Dunhill named Indian producer-director and television host Karan Johar as its brand ambassador, luxury watch brand Timond has appointed him as its worldwide brand ambassador starting July 2007.

He will be seen sporting the luxury watch at parties, events, talk shows besides endorsing the brand in his forthcoming movies. The first of the succession of events will kick-off in August with the launch of Timond's limited edition Tourbillon Series.

"Timond stands for luxury and precision, an aspiration brand for achievers. Karan Johar who is himself revered as a lexicon of luxury makes a perfect fit to personify the inherent values of our brand," said Timond brand manager Tejas Soni.

Johar adds, "Timond appeals to me for its elegance, exclusivity and accuracy. The presence of solid gold and diamond embellishment makes it a real treat for my wrists. I personally feel it a great privilege to be associated with the brand."

Also see:

• Karan Johar: The new face of Alfred Dunhill in India
• Karan Johar on L'Officiel's covershoot

Karan Johar: The new face of Alfred Dunhill in India

According to Pallavi Jha from Yahoo India (Finance), producer, director and host Karan Johar has been signed by British based luxury brand, Alfred Dunhill as its brand ambassador.

The association between Johar and Dunhill was orchestrated by Percept Talent Management (PTM), the recently launched outfit of Percept Holdings. Johar will be seen promoting the products of Dunhill on his show Koffee with Karan, film associations, in-film placements and tie-ups with new releases.

"To reach out to the India's youth population, the brand was on the lookout for someone young, stylish and successful and Karan fit the brand profile," says Vinita Bangard, COO, PTM.

"I have a long standing association with Percept as I have done a few events with them. I have been dealing with Vinita since then and I like working with them as they are highly professional," says Johar of the newly launched company.

Source

Karan Johar to take a 'Koffee' break

Versatile Bollywood director, Karan Johar does not plan to continue with his popular television chat show, Koffee with Karan, after the end of its second season.

"I want to take a break from the show. It has another 11 shows to go after which I won’t be doing it for the time being," said Karan Johar who was in delhi for the launch of a high-end luxury brand store for men, for which he is the brand ambassador. However, he was quick to add that he won’t be out of the silver screen completely, as he would be doing another show for a TV channel. "My next show would be based on a similar concept," he said.

Question him on chances of him facing the camera and he says, "Why do you want people to suffer seeing me facing the cameras. But I don’t mind it either." He further adds, "Now, I will go and ask directors to give me chance to act in their movies," besides jokingly adding, "I cant act in Ram Gopal Verma's movies as he makes gritty ones and it does not go with my style."

Koffee with Karan has seen lot of celebrities talking about issues that they otherwise wont like to make public. He explains this phenomenon by saying, "I am friendly with all of them. I have known them for a very long time so when a friend is interviewing them, they tend to be really frank and open up."

Johar who is currently working on the script of his next movie, which will start rolling early next year, says, "I make movies about issues, which I feel about. When I made Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, I felt for something else and now I feel about a different issue."

Karan Johar on L’Officiel's covershoot

After its fifth year celebrations, L'Officiel managed another coup: An exclusive cover and fashion spread with Karan Johar. Shot in Karan's favourite city, New York, and styled in Lacoste's Autumn-Winter collection, the cover story reveals another side of the multi-talented filmmaker.

On the experience of his first serious fashion shoot:
"The shoot took me back about 25 years in my head, to an obnoxiously fat child, who never wanted to leave his house because he felt that wherever he went people would stare at him because he was fat. I don't think people were as obsessed with my weight as much as I was in my head. The fact that I've been standing there with a make-up van and clothes...it was all very strange, but wonderful.... It's something I'll always remember."

On choosing New York for Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna:
"In the case of KANK, I needed for the affair to happen in a foreign land, because in India you can't just have an affair. You'll always be spotted by some relative. You can't meet in Barista for an affair, but you can meet at a Starbucks, because no one will see you at some discreet Starbucks in New York. I'm not promoting New York as a land for infidelity. I'm just saying that for my story, New York worked."

On not taking sides in controversies:
"I never get into couple's and I basically never get into two people's problems. I never take sides because at the end of the day that's not what I believe in. Sometimes just sitting on the fence is better. Because when you take a side there's no guarantee that the two people who are fighting are not going to get together eventually, and they'll just dump you. I stay away. It's worked for me."

On being lonely:
"I like the trappings of my loneliness. The perks I get. I'm someone who lives by the minute. I could wake up one minute and say I want to travel tonight. And I feel I should be answerable only to my parents, now to my mother. I don't want the burden of being answerable to anyone but myself.

On Koffee with Karan:
"My show reflects my vibe, which is 'hate me, love me, but please don't ignore me.' I just hope that people get it. When I'm asking people about affairs, enmities, etc, it's really just going with the vibe. You could call it frivolous, I call it fun. You could call it creating problems and I could call it clearing the air."

On his style:
"My style always changes from season to season. I like to pick up things that I know will look good on me. And yes, I'm a shopaholic. I love shopping for clothes. It's the only indulgence I have. I'm not into watches, cars, gadgets or gizmos. I have no favourite designers because I don't like to shop in one place. I like to have a combination of things. I'll find something to buy anywhere."

Kareena Kapoor in Karan Johar's next production

Kareena Kapoor's prayers might just be answered.

After having been ousted from Tarun Mansukhani's untitled film (starring Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Saif Ali Khan), she might be seen in Karan Johar's next production.

An 'unusual' love story, the film will be directed by Siddharth Malhotra, who has previously assisted Karan in Kal Ho Naa Ho. Siddharth is presently writing the screenplay of the film. Talking about the new film Karan says, "I have approved the script. He is writing it out now. The cast should be finalised in a month's time."

Kareena's last appearance in a Dharma Production film was for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Another source close to the actress says, "Kareena has been in talks with Karan for sometime for various projects. But nothing has really materialised. Hopefully, this one should work out."

Karan, however, refuses to spell the name of her leading lady. When quizzed about Kareena, he says, "I can't confirm anything just yet. As for the film it's an unusually written film. It is a one-guy-one-gal romantic film."

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Karan Johar’s next film

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol will feature in Karan Johar’s next film that follows the travails of an Indian couple post 9/11.

Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan first starred together in the romantic family drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), a film that was so successful it continues to run uninterrupted till date in a theater in Mumbai! Their last film together Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam (2001), produced and directed by Karan Johar, was a huge success too.

Kajol is currently working on U, Me Aur Hum in which she is paired opposite her husband Ajay Devgan, who is also the director. In addition she has signed up for Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Ramayan. A few days earlier she had told Times of India that she would not sign any more films.

“I can’t handle any more assignments at the same time,” she said. According to a source, the dusky 31-year-old found it hard to turn down Karan Johar with whom she enjoys an excellent professional rapport. Besides, Kajol feels, while taking on more work may keep her away from her daughter Nysa it will allow her to spend more time with her husband Ajay Devgan.

Interestingly, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam (2001) featured Amitabh Bachchan, another close friend of Karan Johar besides Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. However, in view of a simmering professional rivalry between Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan it is moot if he or any of the Bachchans will feature in the new film.

Karan and Kareena painting the walls red

Monday was a special day for Karan Johar and Kareena Kapoor. The director and actress shot together for the first time after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Though it was for a paint ad, the point was well taken by the buddies who temporarily breached their bonding over Kareena's refusal to do Karan's Kal Ho Na Ho.

"That was in the past," Kareena brushes off the cold war. "I was headstrong immature and impulsive. I'd like to think I've matured in the past few years."

As the twosome exchanged buddy-buddy baatein on the set, it was easy to see that they were completely comfortable with one another, the past forgotten.

Karan was exhausted at the end of the day. "It isn't a tough commercial and Bebo today is easy to direct. She's focused and committed. We both had a ball today."

The commercial is part of a package deal for Karan with a major paint company. Shah Rukh Khan's company Red Chillies is producing the ad.

Karan Johar to be the first Celeb guest on KBC

We all know that Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are good friends and when Karan invited Shah Rukh to be the guest on his show Koffee with Karan, Shah Rukh decided to return the favor by inviting Karan to be the first celebrity contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Karan Johar will be playing the game along with their common friend, Farah Khan. This episode will be shot today and it is reportedly going to be telecasted on February 11 as a Friendship Special episode.

Karan Johar says that he is not prepared for it and will just go on the sets and play. This will be the first time that Karan will appear on KBC as participant. Last time he was seen among the audience supporting his friend Shah Rukh when King Khan participated as a contestant on the same show which was then hosted by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan.

Besides, Karan and Farah, the other celebs who will be appearing on KBC include Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar for Brother-Sister Special and Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora Khan for Valentine’s Day Special.

Mallika in Karan Johar's film?

Rumours are rife that Bollywood sex-kitten Mallika Sherawat may star in Karan Johar ’s next film.

Though no official confirmation is available yet, but the rumours originated in a rehearsal of recent talk show, where Johar reportedly recorded talks with the sexy Mallika.

It was recorded in Dharma Production's studio recently, where the entire crew of Johar's production house and also their families turned up to watch the sultry actress in action.

Not only the crew and their star-struck family members, but also Johar himself has been floored by Mallika.

If the rumours turn out to be true, then it will be Mallika's first film with Johar, and needless to say, it will be a worth-watching.

Karan Johar’s ‘Dog’ged avatar

Karan Johar is a creative guy for sure. For he keeps coming up with ‘different’ kinda ideas. After breaking his own mould with the bold ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’, KJ is all set to start working on an animated version of his hugely successful debut film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and hold your horses, dogs are going to playing the roles immortalized by SRK, Rani and Kajol. Sniff sniff…To that one…

It has also been learnt that the in this dog’s day out caper song and dance will play a part too. So, get ready for some canine-music. One wonders if SRK, Rani and Kajol will give their own voices to this ‘dog’ged affair. Moreover, will be there be a shift in clothesline of Kajol from gawky pants to chiffon sarees…It’s gonna be one hell of a brainstorm…Or should be say…Dog-storm…

New Karan Johar and an Interesting Koffee planned

Karan Johar’s popular chat show will be back soon. Koffee with Karan will have a new look by Sharmista Roy and a new look for Karan. It is not just going to be celebrities from the film world on the show but also from sports, business and live audience. And the show will now be available on DVD format too looking at the popularity and the demand of he show. This is the first time that an Indian talk show on television will be available on the DVD format. Lets wait and watch which friend does Karan have on the show this time!

Shahrukh ropes in Karan Johar for Airtel Ad

SRK and Karan both are famous overseas celebrities and every entrepreneur is hell bent on catching both of them to promote their products. Latest is Airtel, which went a step ahead to rope in Karan to make a 60-second commercial for them exclusively for them.

And without guessing it is clear that SRK, the brand ambassador of Airtel, helped Airtel to get this opportunity. But the question is will Karan manage to tell everything in 60-seconds? Usually Karan finds it difficult to squeeze in things he has to say in a three hour-long film. Lets see how well he does excel in making a commercial.

In the meanwhile check out the latest Airtel commercial featuring Shah Rukh Khan