Director-producer Karan Johar appears to be delivering subtle critiques through his social media platforms. Following a cryptic post targeting actors who resort to methods for a youthful appearance, Johar has now criticized Bollywood for blindly following trends via his Instagram story.
In a lengthy note, the director of “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani” expressed, “If big-scale is in demand, then create it. If action is trending, make action films! If love stories are popular, make love stories! If chick flicks are hitting the mark, jump on that bandwagon! The weather changes every week… conviction dies every week! It’s about the box office, not Instagram reels… you’ll be left behind in a 30-second trend!”
However, Johar’s own actions seem contradictory, as he is producing the Sara Ali Khan-starrer film “Ae Watan Mere Watan,” a fictional narrative set against the backdrop of the 1942 Quit India Movement. Inspired by real events, this movie narrates a pivotal chapter from India’s struggle for Independence. This instance highlights the trend of movies inspired by renowned figures, often resulting in box office failures.
In 2022, during a round-table discussion with Galatta Plus, Karan Johar expressed a similar sentiment. He remarked, “The core issue is that we, as part of the mainstream Hindi cinema industry, lack one strong quality present in other cinemas: conviction. We tend to go with the flow.” He acknowledged the industry’s history of remakes, particularly from Tamil and Telugu cinema, which has led to a loss of conviction.
Recently, Johar shared another cryptic post about Botox, emphasizing that fillers and makeup may alter external appearances but not one’s core nature. He wrote, “Applying fillers doesn’t bring fulfillment. Makeup may hide age, but no matter how much Botox you use, you’ll still look like you’ve been stung by a bee. Changing your nose won’t change your essence. Undergoing surgery may change your exterior, but not your inherent nature.”
