In a recent turn of events, prominent Bollywood director Karan Johar has once again stirred up conversation within the entertainment industry. Known for his transparency and active engagement on social media platforms, Johar took to Instagram on Thursday morning with a message that left fans and industry insiders alike pondering the current cinematic landscape.
In his Instagram Stories, Johar penned a thought-provoking and provocative sentence that read like a critique of the Bollywood box office’s unpredictable nature and the industry’s tendency to chase trends. “Bada scale chahiye toh wo banaao. Action chali. Action banaao! Love story chali toh love story banaao! Chick flick hit hui toh wahan jaao! Mausam har hafte badalta hai… conviction har hafte marta hai! Box office hai bhaiya, Instagram reel nahi… 30 second ki trending mein reh jaaoge wahin ke wahin!” This loosely translates to: “If you desire grandeur, create it. If action movies are in, make action flicks! If love stories are succeeding, then craft a romantic film! If chick flicks are hitting the mark, follow that path! The climate shifts weekly… conviction fades every week! This is the box office, not Instagram reels… in chasing a 30-second trend, you’ll remain exactly where you are.”
Johar’s words resonate as a commentary on the volatile nature of Bollywood’s box office where trends change with dizzying speed, and a filmmaker’s conviction can be challenged by the industry’s swing towards what is currently popular. This poignant analogy to weather patterns underscores the ephemeral success tied to what is trending rather than what is substantive or innovative.
The experienced filmmaker’s observation about the fleeting nature of trends in the digital age, where content is often consumed and forgotten quickly, is a stark reminder about the rapidity with which public tastes can change, and the pressure it puts on creators to adapt or risk obsolescence.
More recent news involving Johar includes the buzz surrounding his plans to transform the ‘Student of the Year’ franchise into a digital series. Set to premiere on Disney Plus Hotstar, the series marks the highly anticipated Hindi debut of actress Shanaya Kapoor. Addressing a curious audience at the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) held in Chandigarh, Johar spilled the beans on who would be helming the third installment: director Reema Maya. Johar was forthcoming about ceding creative control to Maya so that the series would truly reflect her vision, steering clear of his own influence which could skew the narrative towards fantasy, a reflection of what Maya’s name signifies. Embracing her steering role, Maya is anticipated to bring a unique perspective to this digital iteration of ‘Student of the Year’, offering a fresh narrative voice in the popular Bollywood franchise.
In an industry as dynamic and as cutthroat as Bollywood, Johar’s recent declarations underscore the delicate balance between artistic integrity and commercial success. His words have undeniably sparked a dialogue about the implications of current box office trends and their impact on cinematic quality. As Shanaya Kapoor readies to step into the limelight with ‘Student of the Year 3’, Johar has positioned the franchise to potentially defy the very trends about which he waxes so eloquently critical. As the winds of popularity shift, it remains to be seen how Johar’s own works will fare amidst an environment he describes as capricious and trend-driven, and whether conviction in the craft of filmmaking can indeed maintain a steadying force in the face of such malleable climates.
