Is Karan Johar the ‘Atlee’ of Hindi Cinema? Young Director’s Humble Request: ‘Please, Don’t Say That!
It was suggested that Karan Johar be dubbed “Atlee of Hindi cinema,” Atlee was asked for his opinion.
Atlee made his film debut in Jawan, a Hindi film. On Thursday, the director discussed the film’s performance at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2023, which starred Shah Rukh Khan. Atlee also discussed his first encounter with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) in 2013, when the actor was presented to him as “South India’s Karan Johar.” Atlee responded to a question on whether or not Karan Johar should be known as the “Atlee of Hindi cinema” by saying that, unlike Karan, he does action pictures.
At a recent gathering, Atlee was questioned about Karan Johar
Atlee stated, “This image was taken in 2013,” referring to when they first met at an awards event. Down South, I was hailed as the year’s finest first-time director. Shah Rukh Khan appeared as part of the ‘Chennai Express’ promotional tour. I requested a photo op with him, and his management obliged. At the time, he had no idea who I was. I was dubbed “South India’s Karan Johar” by a mutual friend. It made him happy, and he hugged me.
“Hollywood’s Atlee”
After being asked about his comparison with Karan Johar, the filmmaker answered, “I started with South cinema. That’s why people nicknamed me ‘South Indian Karan Johar’. Yes, sir Karan, I do action flicks and adore you. He was a driving force in getting me to star in the Hindi film Jawan. But don’t put it like that.
Atlee discussed the North vs. South movie argument during the occasion. The director said that movies cannot be categorised. He said that “that respect should be there in the making process also” because, in a movie theatre, no one knows who is sitting next to them, what they are, or where they are from.
This is a Jawan reprint
Jawan was released on September 7 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, directed by Atlee, and produced by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, in addition to Shah Rukh, the film stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Girija Oak, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureshi, Ridhi Dogra, Sunil Grover, and a host of others in supporting parts.
During a recent India Today event, Atlee explained Shah Rukh’s inspiration for Jawan’s pan-Indian scope, noting that the actor “felt it should be a national film and a national collaboration of culture.” In addition, he commended the crowd for being intelligent enough to “know what’s good and what’s bad.” Atlee said that “certain classifications should be eradicated” and that everyone involved in the film industry should be referred to simply as “Indian filmmakers” and “national filmmakers.”
