Karan Johar reveals Shabana Azmi called out ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ gender politics; admits, ‘There was indeed some latent hypocrisy’
Karan Johar recently revisited his 1998 directorial debut, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai‘, reflecting on its portrayal of gender dynamics. Johar shared that veteran actress Shabana Azmi challenged him on the film’s handling of gender politics, pointing out what she saw as a hypocritical narrative.
In a conversation with Lilly Singh, Johar reflected on his filmmaking journey and the responsibilities that come with it. When asked about the impact of his films on audiences and culture, Johar acknowledged both the love he’s received and the need to critically evaluate “the gender politics, some aspects of communication, and certain cringe-worthy moments in the film”. He expressed that media controversies and film bans often force him to second-guess his decisions. Johar also feels that Indian cinema is a “soft target”.
The filmmaker recounted a post-release conversation with Shabana Azmi regarding ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, where she questioned the film’s underlying “politics.” Johar admitted he hadn’t fully considered these aspects at the time, focusing instead on reviving his father’s struggling production house with a blockbuster hit. He acknowledged a “latent hypocrisy” in the film, driven by a desire to reflect the cinema he grew up with, rather than to make a socially impactful or politically correct statement. His primary goal was commercial success for his family, not necessarily a contribution to societal progress.
On the work front, Karan Johar’s most recent directorial project was 2023 film ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, featuring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh.
