A Minute With: Karan Johar and some Koffee

When he's not directing and producing films or designing costumes, Karan Johar is chatting with his friends -- and getting paid for it.

In November, the 38-year-old filmmaker reprises his role as television chat show host on the third season of "Koffee With Karan".

Johar spoke to Reuters about his return to television, politically correct Bollywood stars and taking a break from Twitter.

Q: When "Koffee with Karan" ended four years ago, did you think there would be a third season?

A: "I always knew there would be a season three. I just didn't know when. I took a huge break in between to do other things and directed 'My Name is Khan'. The sabbatical was unfortunate but a required sabbatical."

Q: You are doing so many things -- production, direction and fashion designing. Where does "Koffee with Karan" figure in this scheme of things?


A: "I think 'Koffee with Karan' is an extension of my personality. It's one of the reasons why I have such equity in market. A lot of people associate my name with the show rather than my films. I have great fun doing it. They (stars) are all my friends and it's like lounging around in your living room and chatting."

Q: Are there any taboo subjects on the show?

A: "Well, yes. I will never go into personal territory that I know would make the guest uncomfortable. Like if a couple is getting divorced you don't ask them about it. It's just good manners. And I am not here to ruffle feathers or hurt any one."

Q: Are you planning to move beyond Bollywood this season?

A: "Well, I am going to try. But those will just be four or five episodes. The show is going to be predominantly Bollywood because that is what it is about. And that is what people want to see."

Q: How have guests changed since the first season of the show?

A: "They have become more guarded. I think Bollywood stars on the whole have become more politically correct than before. Basically because there is so much attention being paid to what they say and do, especially because of social networking sites like Twitter. And even an innocent remark can be misconstrued. But that makes the job harder for people like us."

Q: Speaking of Twitter, why haven't you been tweeting recently?

A: "I just got fed up of it all. It was such a pain having to update constantly about what you are doing and your whereabouts. I worded it very carefully so that I wouldn't have so many questions about why I was going off Twitter. And now I can't possibly start again because people will say I am just doing it to promote the show."

Q: Will there be a fourth season of 'Koffee with Karan'?

A: "Honestly, the celebrity quotient in our industry is so less, I end up having the same people on my show. And the ones who don't come on the show might think they are celebrities but they are not, at least in my mind. I am hoping there will be a fourth season too but I also need to direct a film, which is very important also. Let's see."

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 

 

(ibtimes)

Check Out: Farah Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Raju Hirani shoot for Koffee with Karan

One of the most popular talk shows in the history of Indian television is all set for a grand comeback. Yes…we are indeed talking about 'Koffee with Karan' hosted by none other than the inimitable Karan Johar. Season 3 of 'Koffee with Karan' is all set to return in a few weeks from now and from the looks of it, this one promises to be bigger, better and spicier.

Some of the guests who will be seen on the show include current heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan & Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor. Besides actors, Karan even got 3 of the most popular directors namely Rajkumar Hirani, Imtiaz Ali and Farah Khan to shoot for a Director's special episode last night. The quartet seemed to have had a blast and Farah who posted this pic on Twitter immediately tweeted, "Shot 4 koffee with karan, imtiaz ali n raju hirani last nite. such fun."

Well with such interesting personalities all set to reveal some hitherto unknown facts about their life, we can't wait to smell this Koffee. 

(By Bollywood Hungama News Network)

Karan Johar wants to have 'Koffee' with Aamir

Director Karan Johar, who is coming up with the third season of Koffee with Karan, said he would be honoured to bring and interview superstar Aamir Khan in his popular talk show. "I had a chat with Aamir. I am trying to have him in this season. I think Aamir has proven his mettle as a filmmaker, actor and as a personality I think we should all be really proud of. Aamir conceptually has said that we would do it but we are yet to figure out a date and a schedule. It would be my honour to interview Aamir Khan," Karan told reporters here on Friday.


For the first time, actor couple Abhishek and Aishwarya would be appearing in any talk show together after their marriage.
"It was a great to have Abhi and Ash, there are my friends only. After their marriage, it's their first appearance together in a talk show. There were many things that I wanted to know, which I think audience would love to know because they are really one of the royal couple of Bollywood," said Karan.
Stories were making rounds that estranged couple actor Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra would appear together in the show, but Karan rubbished the speculations showering praise on their acting skills.
"There is a media conjecture but I haven't spoken to them (Shahid and Priyanka). They are great couple on screen. I would say Kaminey was a fantastic film and Shahid and Priyanka are big reason for that. I would love to have Shahid and Priyanka together," said Karan.
Karan maintains that he wouldn't take advantage of his personal rapport with the stars to unravel their secrets beyond a certain level.
"I never offend any of my guests. I try to make them feel comfortable as I invite them to my show. Yes, some sequences are revealed, some fun conversation happened but I don't think anything is offensive," said Karan.
"There are new enemies, new lovers and new controversies, so we will talk on that," he added.
Koffee with Karan would be aired on STAR World from Nov 7.

(Hindustan Times )

Will Kareena, Ranbir have Koffee With Karan?

The latest celebrity pair to be approached to appear together for season 3 of Koffee With Karan, according to sources, are famous cousins Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor

If Karan Johar manages this one, it will be nothing short of a coup. In many of her interviews, Kareena has been lamenting that she cannot be paired opposite the young hotshot actor because he is her cousin. Let’s hope she agrees to come on the show with him.

Meanwhile, buzz is that the coffee wall, a pre-dominant feature of the show in its first two seasons, will be completely done away with. It was on the wall that the celebs signed and deposited their coffee mugs. This time the makers are set to introduce something new and contemporary in its place.

(India Express)

Karan Johar on why Hrithik and not Abhishek for Agneepath remake

It's official. Karan Johar finally admits it is Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra in the Agneepath remake.

Speaking officially for the first time about the casting of the Agneepath remake, Karan Johar coolly and cleverly passes on the buck to his newbie director Karan Malhotra for Abhishek Bachchan's non-presence in the remake...a casting digression that jolted everyone who thought Abhishek was a natural and inevitable inheritor of the Agneepath role.

Says Karan Johar, "When my father (the late Yash Johar) produced Agneepath, he left everything to his director Mukul Anand and kept completely away from the project. I'm carrying on the family tradition. The casting for the Agneepath remake was decided by the director Siddharth. He decided on Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra. Why Hrithik and not Abhishek? I think Siddharth has his own ideas on how to present the character. I think the protagonist in the new Agneepath would be very different from how he was in the original."

The script for the new Agneepath is also entirely re-vamped. Priyanka Chopra won't play a nurse, like Madhvi had done in the original. And the Mithun Chakraborty's character from the original has been done away with completely.

If there was any tension about the Bachchan's scion, Abhishek not even been approached for the remake of Agneepath, it was wiped away last week at the haute couture week where it was crystal-clear in public that the Bachchans still treated Karan as part of their family.

Last Wednesday, at Manish Malhotra's fashion show Abhishek, more baffled than hurt by not even asked to do the Agneepath remake, walked up and warmly hugged Karan. The following evening on Thursday, Karan coaxed the original Agneepath protagonist Big B to walk the ramp with star of the remake Hrithik Roshan,thereby putting an end to all speculation within the film industry about a strain between the Bachchan parivar and Karan over the Agneepath issue.

Says Karan emotionally, "The Bachchans and my family go back a long way. Our association is not on a film-to-film basis. It doesn't matter how many films we work in or don't work in. For the record, I will be doing at least ten more films with Abhishek in my lifetime. He's already done two films with our banner Dharma Productions. He's doing Dostana 2 next year."

(By Subhash K. Jha )

(Bollywood Hungama)

Big B, SRK, Hrithik jig on KJo's ramp

http://movies.ndtv.com/PhotoDetail.aspx?Page=1&ID=8346#talk

(NDTV)

Kareena rubbishes reports of charging Rs 5 cr for ‘Short Term Shaadi’

Bollywood is rife with rumours that Kareena Kapoor has charged a whopping Rs 5 crore for Karan Johar’s ‘Short Term Shaadi’. Starring Imran Khan, when the actress was quizzed about her newly hiked fee, the size-zero lass was at her diplomatic best as she snubbed the query with an apt reply.


Talking to a news daily, the actress said, “Karan is family, we don’t discuss money or even scripts. He tells me when to start shooting and pays me what I deserve. I certainly hope he gives me this much.”

When asked whether she will be getting herself a ‘chaddi-tee’ wardrobe, Kareena rubbished the rumour stating that she will not compromise on clothes to up the glam quotient of ‘Short Term Shaadi’ as she said, “Besides, shorts have been done to death in the movies. And my fans didn’t like the ‘Tashan’ look. So I’ll be wearing lots of clothes with a ‘Jab We Met’ kind of a vibe.”

But isn’t she going back to size zero on KJo’s instructions? “No!” pat comes the reply. “This size zero nonsense has been going on for too long. I’m grateful to Shah Rukh (Khan) for taking the mantle away for me. Ever since he got into those body suits for ‘Ra.One’, people have been discussing his weight loss rather than mine,” she said.

For now, Kareena is all praise for SRK’s lean look for ‘Ra.One’ as she said, “I saw the rushes recently and he looks so hot. We have an Italian director of photography (DOP) and he has captured my best features too. Both ‘Ra.One’ and Saif’s (Ali Khan) ‘Agent Vinod’ are big summer releases and I’m looking forward to them.”

Talking about ‘Short Term Shaadi’, Kareena said, “It’s a riot. If it’s made the way it is written, you will be rolling in the aisles too. Both Imran and I have performance driven roles.”

Apparently, post ‘3 Idiots’, Kareena will soon be seen with Aamir in an advertisement as she added, “I’d die to do a film with Aamir, preferably a love story. But there’s nothing on the cards at the moment. And given Aamir’s pace, by the time he’s ready for a Kapoor, it will probably be Samaira (sister Karisma Kapur’s daughter) and not me opposite him.”

Kareena’s upcoming releases include ‘Golmaal 3’, where she plays chawanni chaap Daboo.

(Spicezee Bureau )

Here is Koffee with Karan's guest list

The new season of Koffee ¦ will have KJo grabbing eyeballs with the guest list. Here are some of the biggies who are expected to feature on the show

Karan Johar begins shooting for a new season of Koffee With Karan this month-end. The chat show might just have stars that have been evading KJo (and missing the cool coffee hamper!).



The filmmaker has openly expressed his desire to have a cuppa with Aamir Khan and Salman Khan among others.

Guests who tend to be mono-syllabic, however, do not qualify to be on the sofa as he wants them to be at ease because only then will the candid talk flow.

This season the host is likely to fulfill his wish list. Here's why...


Aamir Khan
Mr Perfectionist is loosening up and is now game for a piping hot cuppa and the rapid fire round! B-Town has been taking notice of the recent bonding between Karan and Aamir. Eyebrows have been raised about this friendship because of KJo's proximity to Shah Rukh Khan and considering Aamir loves to take potshots at King Khan every chance he gets. In the past, when AK was approached, he had refused saying that guests say things that are frank and forthright. But now that he is at ease with the host, he does not mind. Last December, KJo did an interview with the actor for a men's mag. Karan was invited to Aamir's bash in honour of music director Gustavo Santaolalla. He also attended the Peepli [Live] music launch and Aamir and he chatted like long-lost friends!


Salman Khan
Mr Entertainer will not mince words and says things as he sees them, in his own inimitable style. Even though KJo is treading in territory that is clearly hostile to best buddy SRK, he is being a professional as viewers want to see and hear Sallu. In the past, Karan has stated that he is not averse to working with the Khan if an opportunity arises. And this time, it knocks over coffee. Considering that Sallu has already appeared on Lift Kara De that was also hosted by Karan, there should be no reservations this season. And the audience will wonder what he will have to say about SRK in the presence of Karan.


Akshay Kumar
KJo's closeness to his arch-rival Shah Rukh Khan kept Mr Khiladi away from the show. Add to this KJo's comments made during a debate at FICCI-Frames 2010. "What are these movies Akshay does? I don't understand them." Akki felt it was a bid to humiliate him. Though Karan explained and apologised to Khiladi Kumar for the statement, the actor was in no mood to forget. He initially turned down the Lift Kara De invite saying he was too busy. But over time, things changed and he shot for the show. With Karan being close to the Khans (except for one) he might as well bond with a Tees Maar Khan too. Perhaps Akshay will be seen on the show with biwi Twinkle!

(Mid Day)

Bebo, dad in K Jo's next

Kareena Kapoor and her father Randhir Kapoor are teaming up for the first time to play reel-life father and daughter in Karan Johar's next film, Short Term Shaadi.

Randhir and his daughters Kareena and Karisma have become really thick recently. His wife, Babita, too is spending quality time with the former actor after his recent health scare brought the couple, who have faced marital trouble in the past, closer together.

A source close to the project reveals, "Kareena is really excited. After spending years in the industry, this is the first film that is making her play daughter to her own father. She and her dad gel really well and they are both happy to do a project together. They will rehearse together, too. Randhir, on the other hand, is delighted that he will be spending more quality time with his busy daughter who is neck-deep in work. Babita, too, is looking forward to see her husband work with Kareena. She has been heard saying that she can't wait to see them in the same frame."

The entire Kapoor family, including Karisma, is likely to be present on the sets when Kareena and Randhir do their first scene together. It's going to be one big happy family reunion and an emotional one also for them. The film, reported to be inspired by the Cameron Diaz- Ashton Kutcher starrer What Happens in Vegas, it is not a remake of the Hollywood hit. However, Short Term Shaadi will be shot in Vegas where two people (Imran and Kareena) get married after getting drunk. Though they decide to get divorced as they hate each other, they end up falling in love.

(TOI)

Kareena packs a paanch

Achha listen, my trade khabru claims to have some really hot news on Kareena Kapoor. Now don’t be alarmed, for this is purely professional… I’m informed that the lissome lass is apparently Dharma Productions’ most expensive heroine, signed on for Rs 5 crore for Shakun Batra’s directorial debut with Imran Khan.

Now, this is ekdum opposite of those Kal Ho Na Ho days when Karan Johar declined to pay the Kapoor kudi her market price she asked for, to work with first time director Nikhil Advani. However, for this new film, K Jo and Bebo didn’t bicker about moneys and mutually agreed to the mentioned remuneration.

My trade type source tells me that no Dharma Productions heroine has been paid such a high fee before and neither has any other actor despite doing multi-lingual versions of a couple of this year’s mega-budget movies. Hmm, way to go Bebo.

(Hindustan Times)