ISB 01-12-2013_Layout 1 12/1/2013 8:10 AM Page 11
A
11
arts Sunday, 1 December, 2013
ranbir avErTs clash wiTh srk, buT may comPETE wiTh hriThik
Plans are nothing; planning is everything — Dwight D. Eisenhower
malE sTars biTch aT ParTiEs, fEmalE sTars do iT on ThE show: kJo
a
head of the fourth season of Koffee With Karan, the amiable, affable and accessible Karan Johar sits with his coffee on the couch for a conversation with TOI. Excerpts: There has been so much discussion over Salman Khan opening Season 4. Why Salman?
Shah Rukh opened Season 1 and 2, Abhishek and Aishwarya opened Season 3. Salman has never been on the show ever and so was the grand choice. I don’t know why this comparison on who will open Koffee With Karan. Shah Rukh has been a part of every season and, in fact, in Season 1, he came twice. Shah Rukh is very supportive of me doing this show and and I’m sure he will come in Season 4 too. People want to create a stir when nothing exists. Guests on Koffee With Karan is hardly national news. What is Koffee With Karan for you?
With film release dates gaining utmost importance in Bollywood, the practice of grabbing the big dates well in advance continues to gain momentum. The film corporation, which has signed both Jagga Jasoos and Happy New Year, were in a spot when the respective actors — Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan — put their finger on Diwali 2014 as the release date for their home productions. In what could be described as a prudent move, RK Junior decided to advance his movie to October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, the same date on which he released Besharam this year. But now we hear that Hrithik Roshan has that date reserved for Bang Bang. And, as of now, we hear the release date of Jagga Jasoos will not be moved again. So, this time around there could be a Ranbir-Hrithik date clash as sources from the film corporation handling Bang Bang say they are definite this film will release on the allotted date too. NeWS deSK
It’s a very strong extension of my brand and I did not know it will contribute to my brand as strongly as it has. It started off as a talk show with me talking to stars, but I did not know that the level of comfort that I had with them would convert to an interesting viewing on TV and become a brand by itself. Had I known that, I would have charged the channel more than what I did. While I am a filmmaker, producer and director, the brand value the show has is way above its ratings and the show is eventually a big part of who I am today. There is not a single encounter in a coffee shop where I have not been asked ‘Can we have coffee with Karan?’ Everyone thinks it is an original joke. Every morning I am asked that when I go and get my coffee from the neighbourhood shop. If I play a word game where I say coffee, you will land up saying Karan. It has added a dimension to my personality and I will always continue doing it. If I am tired someday and I am not saying hello with enthusiasm, people tell me, ‘Why are you being so cold? You are so warm on
TV.’ So you always have to be perky. I am associated with being this amiable, affable and accessible person and I feel the show has done that. It has warmed up people to me. Have you considered doing a Hindi version of the show on a GEC?
Even though I have been offered that option, I don’t think I will be as comfortable in Hindi. Given the level of intimacy and the slant the conversation takes at times, I will sound completely artificial if I do it in Hindi. While I write my dialogues in Hindi, our spoken conversation language is English, so in a conversation, I am comfortable more in English. In Hindi, the content would be compromised. How was Salman on the show?
He was fantastic. He understood the need for him to be irreverent on the show. And yet, he was introspective at times. He struck that balance beautifully. He has come out like he never has before. A part of him on TV so far was about projecting, but on my show he said things that really came from his heart. And yet there was stuff that was fun and fabulous as Salman always is. For instance, at one point, he talked about the invasion that comes as a result of being a media figure. I also asked him why he is not married. The one thing I am excited about is that he answered everything and did not squirm over anything. I think Salman knows how to keep the respect for the movie industry and keep the irreverence in the most beautiful way. He manages it with his charm. I caught him blushing many times. If I was another journalist asking him these questions, he would have probably got up and slapped me. But I am not there to offend any guest. I may stand on the line, but will never cross it. My show is not about offending anyone, it’s about irreverence and being fun and entertaining. Your favourite guests in the past?
Every time you put two women on the couch, that episode explodes. The Kapoor family (Randhir, Rishi, Rajiv and Reema)
was the most hysterical episode in which I had the most fun. Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta were the most cracked and interestingly, the highest rated episode. And, of course, Shah Rukh’s rapidfire round in the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai trio episode with Rani and Kajol was a laugh riot. Let me tell you, calling people for the show is not easy. Who comes with who has become the profile of the show. I can write an entire book on the conversations with the movie stars I have had behindthe-scenes and I will do that before I die. Who was the toughest to get on the show?
The toughest to get was Salman and Aamir. While Salman has opened the show, Aamir will be coming on the show with Kiran and I am very excited about that.
didn’t know him. It was challenging as I was so scared of crossing the line and didn’t know how he would take the irreverence. But I have to say he was fabulous. The episode that I was most blown by was with Ajay Devgn. He was candid and irreverent and I never thought he would be like that. I thought he would be shy and reserved, but he was all guns blazing. My lowest rated show was with Richard Gere and I now know that no wants to see Hollywood stars. Let’s do a quick rapidfire round with you. One word that stands for the impression the star left on your on your show?
Who was the toughest to interview?
Shah Rukh: Magnetic Salman: Honest Priyanka: Spunky Deepika: Straightforward Ranbir: Charming Hrithik: Exuberant
I was nervous about Sunny Deol as I
NeWS deSK
I Was a sperM Donor, says aBHInav KasHyap From donating sperms at a hospital to locking up the principal for his exam ticket, Abhinav Singh Kashyap’s DU days were quite eventful. Taking a walk down memory lane during his visit to his alma mater Hansraj College, the Besharam director filled us in on his ragging and romance sessions from his graduation days.
would get sponsorships for college fests. So that ways, I would earn my commission in a legal way. Main to rahisi se rehta tha, mere kamre mein cooler tha. Mere paas bike thi. In fact, I used to do part-time jobs. I was a sperm donor at Gauri Hospital. I might be having some six-seven kids in Delhi.
I WAS A HIRA My association with Hansraj College began in 1989 when Anurag (Kashyap, his elder brother) enrolled here. I used to come and stay in the hostel during summer vacations. At that time, Hansraj had a Hansraj Illegal Residents’ Association and I was a HIRA.
LOCKED UP THE PRINCIPAL FOR EXAMINATION TICKET When students asked him about the most besharam thing he has done, Abhinav said, ‘Teachers will get embarrassed hearing this. But I’d advise students not to do this. In the final year, I had only 13% attendance and I wasn’t getting the examination ticket. We locked up the principal inside his room. At that time, there was no AC and it was quite hot inside. Unke room ke bahar hartal ki thi aur shor kiya tha, uske baad permission mili thi exam mein baithne ki.
GAVE UP ST STEPHEN’S FOR HANSRAJ I gave up my Maths (Hons) in St Stephen’s to study English (Hons) at Hansraj College because Anurag had studied here and I knew the college. Us samay toh media bhi itna tha nahi, toh everyone was shocked. Many people told me ‘Tu toh Maths mein accha hai, English padhke kya professor banega’. But after I took up English (Hons), it was Dr Sanjay Kumar (his professor) because of whom I had my first exposure to philosophy and mentorship. He used to teach existentialism and I would always attend his classes. Doosri classes kam attend ki thi but Sanjay sir ki classes attend karta tha. Unki class mein chai peena, rajmachawal khaana allowed tha. Other teachers were quite strict. I WAS RAGGED FOR SIX MONTHS I knew the people in the hostel. I had
the required scores, so I got admission and also a room in the hostel. Once inside, all my brothers’ seniors, were there. So that sense of familiarity was there. However, I was ragged more than others. Hamaare yahaan woh pratha thi ki freshers’ party tak ragging hoti thi. That was the year the Mandal Commission protests started, so our freshers’ party got delayed to December. My ragging began in June, even
before I’d taken admission, and went on till December. I was ragged for six months, but I enjoyed it. LOST THE COLLEGE ELECTION BY 10 VOTES DU was politically charged at that time and I even stood for the college union’s presidential elections. I lost by 10 votes. Mera agenda tha pyaar baant te chalna. Us time budget nahi hota tha toh logon
ko pushp nahi baant paaya tha. Pushp ke bina ladkiyan vote nahi karti. Us saal hostel ke votes divide ho gaye the kyunki baaki candidates bhi hostel se hi the. I WAS A SPERM DONOR When asked whether he owed any money to the canteen owner Anthony, Abhinav said, “Maine kisi ke paise nahi khaaye. I was quite a resourceful guy. I would get the college T-shirts, sweatshirts made and
I PROPOSED TO A LOT OF GIRLS I am a very loving guy. I generously spread love. I proposed to a lot of girls, and those who accepted my proposal were lucky. Those who refused, didn’t know what they were missing out on. I would take my girlfriends to the Ridge area and Lover’s Point was a favourite hangout place. I WANT TO BE THE IDOL OF OTHER PEOPLE When are trying to operate in different segments. In fact, we are trying to run a mafia and take over entire Mumbai. Entertainment chahiye toh Kashyap brothers se aap bach nahi sakte.” NeWS deSK