Karan Johar denies casting Shah Rukh Khan in Bombay Talkies short film

Indian cinema has lived 100 glorious years, giving audiences exceptional films and entertaining the world. In commemoration of one of the most popular film industries in the world, four filmmakers will pool in their expertise to craft a film titled Bombay Talkies. Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Bannerjee will piece this film together, each directing a short film that will be included in Bombay Talkies. While the rest have cast stars for their films, Karan Johar is yet to decide on his short film’s star cast. Known for directing longer films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Student of the Year (2012), Karan Johar has considered the making of this short film to be a challenge.

“I am currently in the pre-production stage and haven’t cast anyone. I just locked the screenplay a few days ago, and plan to start the shoot by the end of January. For me, it’s a challenging format. We have 20 minutes to tell a story, which is coherent and connected to the other plots. This can be a challenge for any filmmaker,” said Karan Johar in an interview with HT City. The director has also been rumored to have cast his good friend and lucky charm, Shah Rukh Khan, in the lead. While the producers of the film have mentioned the same, Karan Johar has denied the news, claiming it to be nothing but a rumor.

“I am excited by this short film. It’s something I have never done before,” said Karan Johar, speaking about the upcoming tribute to Bollywood. The film is scheduled to release on the 3rd of May, 2012.

Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s friendship remains unbreakable

Rumor-mills have forever been spinning yarns and some of the most recent gossip to make headlines is an ongoing rift in director Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s friendship. The two have been close friends since a while now and have worked together in several blockbusters before including Karan Johar’s directorial ventures like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). In all of these films, Shah Rukh Khan has starred in the lead and has been termed as Karan Johar’s lucky charm. For his most recent film titled Student of the Year, Karan decided to rope in a newcomer cast, one of the reasons that sparked of false rumors of a fallout.

"Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Shah Rukh are the two reasons I am in the industry. Shah Rukh is like my older brother, and I am bound to him for emotional, spiritual and professional reasons," said Karan Johar however, pushing these rumors to the ground. Just recently, the director spent a vacation with Shah Rukh Khan and his family in the United Kingdom. “I am here to spend time with Aryan and Gauri. Shah Rukh, Gauri and I are a unit that has evolved beyond the realms of the film fraternity,” said Karan speaking from London.

While Shah Rukh Khan might not have made an appearance in Karan’s latest film, he has co-produced Student of the Year under his Red Chillies Entertainment banner with Dharma Productions.

Student of the Year is Karan Johar’s shortest directorial venture

Student of The year

Director-producer Karan Johar is known to be a story-teller. In the past, Karan has directed several films, all of which have been extensive stories that have kept viewers engrossed through their length. Previously, Karan has directed the films Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). Each of these films have been longer than the usual tide of movies and have managed to draw in crowds.

Kuch Hota Hai stretched to 185 minutes and was followed by Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). This film starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead and plays for 211 minutes. His longest film, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, runs for a whopping 215 minutes and chronicles the lives of characters played by Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher. In 2010, Karan Johar directed the film My Name Is Khan which, on the other hand, was timed at 161 minutes.

Karan however decided to keep his most recent directorial venture, Student of the Year, shorter than his previous films. Prior to the film’s release, Karan had articulated “Yes this is going to be the shortest film of my career. Though I am yet to arrive at the final cut, it should be around 135-140 minutes at maximum,” adding, “We have some days of shooting still left. I think I am making a sequel along with the film. I think it’s a never-ending saga... though it’s a fun-frolic, happy film. But I may have overshot it a tad."

Analytically speaking, shorter films do better at multiplexes, allowing more shows to be screened on a single day. As expected, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year featuring Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt was recently crowned a blockbuster!

Siddharth Malhotra praises his director-mentor Karan Johar

Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra has been basking in the glory of his debut film, Student of the Year. A Karan Johar directorial that has launched the careers of Siddharth along with two more promising newcomers, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, the film is a campus romance produced by Dharma Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment.

“Actors look for a big launch but when someone like Karan Johar, who has never launched a newcomer actor before, is behind the film, the confidence level goes further up. In a way the scare factor too goes up since all eyes are on you to perform. It is particularly difficult when you are a complete outsider,” said Siddharth Malhotra. Unlike his co-actors, the actor has now previous film experience and does not come from a Bollywood-based background. Varun Dhawan on the other hand is the son of veteran actor David Dhawan while Alia Bhatt is the daughter of director Mahesh Bhatt.

Siddharth has been full of praise for his director-mentor Karan Johar who has indeed given him more than just a dream debut. The actor was handpicked by Karan for the role in this film. “Well, nobody puts their money and faith into you unless there is some promise that you show. Having said that, I was showing that promise to other filmmakers as well! It was Karan who had the guts to put his money on me. He has an option of taking anyone but still he took Varun, Alia and me. His vision is very different,” said Siddharth.

Siddharth Malhotra stars as Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi in the film Student of the Year. Alia Bhatt on the other hand plays Shanaya Singhania while Varun Dhawan dons the role of her boyfriend Rohan Nanda. Together, the three are students at a well-heeled school in Dehradun presided over by Rishi Kapoor’s gay character, Dean Yogendra Vasisht. The film released on 19th of October and is indeed one of Karan Johar’s best works!

“I had never thought of getting into the film industry,” says Karan Johar’s debutant, Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra has been crowned as one of Bollywood’s most promising newcomer actors. The 27-year-old has recently made his debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. The film is directed by Karan Johar and produced jointly Dharma Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment. Excited as ever, Siddharth Malhotra has been raving on about his big-screen debut ever since the film released on the 19th of October, 2012. I feel I am very lucky to make my debut as an actor with Dharma Production and being directed by Karan Johar. There is no director who could replace him.”

Siddharth began his career as a model in Delhi. He walked the ramp for several international and Indian designers including Rohit Bal, Manish Arora and Manish Malhotra. He has also won several titles including the Gladrags Face of the Year 2009 award and the NDTV Model of the Year 2010. “Modeling happened by chance as someone told me will you do modeling and get paid. I felt it was an easy way to earn good money. It was just a part time thing that I was doing.”

After his stint at modeling, Siddharth moved down to Mumbai to try his hand at acting. After auditioning for a film that failed to take off however, Siddharth began working as an assistant director to Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan. “I had never thought of getting into the film industry.  When I came to Mumbai four-five years back, I was modeling in Delhi with an agency. Then I was to audition for a film that was for Anubhav Sinha and produced by Adlabs. They selected me as an actor. I was on a high but the film never worked out. It was a big downer. Then I thought since I am trying to get into this industry I must learn the nitty gritty of films. Hence I took up assisting to understand the technicalities of filmmaking.”

Catch Siddharth Malhotra in Karan Johar’s most recent release, Student of the Year.

Karan Johar’s debutant Siddharth Malhotra isn’t dating; proves rumors to be untrue

Siddharth Malhotra

Siddharth Malhotra has been grabbing headlines with his acting debut in Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture, Student of the Year. Starring in the lead alongside two more newcomers, Alia Bhatt (director Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter) and Varun Dhawan (filmmaker David Dhawan’s son), this young actor is on his way to stardom. And just like every other celebrity today, the world has been longing for a peek at Siddharth Malhotra’s personal life, with rumors in regards to the same popping up time and again.

Previously, rumors of the young actor dating a Costa Rican model, Natalie, showed up. As per reports, Siddharth and Natalie crossed paths and began dating when the actor was in the United States. This apparently was during the shooting of the film My Name Is Khan in which Siddharth worked as an Assistant Director to his mentor Karan Johar. And that’s not all. There also were rumors of Siddharth Malhotra dating his pretty co-star Alia Bhatt. As expected, these reports were nothing more than the usual tittle-tattle that spills out of B-town. Speaking about false rumors and reports turning up in media streams, Siddharth recently articulated, “Everything written in the media should not be taken seriously. It's a mental game. You need to detach yourself from reviews, media, etc. How to survive before and after release too matters a lot.”

The promising debutant also went on to break down talk about link-ups and made public his single status. Aaah, no I am not involved with anyone right now and there is no dating-shating happening. People who have been in this journey of mine are my family members and very close friends. Beyond that there is no one else in my close relation with," said Siddharth Malhotra when asked about his dating plans.

Karan Johar and his newcomer star-cast pleased with Student of the Year’s success

Student of The Year

“I call Student of the Year my holiday film. I love songs and dance and good-looking people. I won’t apologize for liking this,” says director-producer Karan Johar who lifted the veil off his fifth directorial venture a few weeks ago. Starring newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, this campus romance managed to grab a load of attention after its release and continues to do so. “I had no interest in making a film that was close to reality. I don’t want to see anything real for a while. I want to make it look outlandishly fantastic and yet have a film that connects because that’s my personality,” added Karan prior to the film’s release.

The young actors and their mentor-director are ever exuberant about the success of their film and have been raving on about the entire experience, most of which is new for them. “I have been an assistant to Karan Johar from the making of ‘My Name is Khan.’ I am happy to gain recognition now. But it makes me realize one thing distinctly: that I have to keep up to the attitude of a hero,” said Siddharth Malhotra, speaking about the film and his newfound stardom. The film’s center of attraction, Alia Bhatt, went on to add, “Getting love from fans and their appreciation, nonetheless, brings a different kind of a feeling in the actor within me. All I know is that I will have to not take this success lightly but try to put in all my sincere efforts in the right directions, in order maintain this success hereafter.”

The film’s third lead, Varun Dhawan is equally ecstatic about his debut and went on to articulate, “I am happy for the stupendous beginning. After the success of this film, I have decided that I shall sign a few good films from outside banners.” The film also includes veteran actor Rishi Kapoor playing the role of a gay school dean named Yogendra Vasisht. The plot revolves around the intertwining lives of three students at a school played by Siddharth, Varun and Alia.

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year - a dream romance!

Student of The Year

Dharma Productions chief Karan Johar is synonymous with the world of romantic movies and fairy-tale scenarios. His most recent film, Student of the Year, is a teenage-dream on celluloid. The film stars three fresh faces, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, who’ve attracted crowds to multiplexes around the country. Produced by Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan’s banner Red Chillies Entertainment, Student of the Year is a glamorously charming film indeed.

Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi (Siddharth Malhotra), enrolls at one of the biggest schools in the country, the St. Teresa’s High School in Dehradun on a sports scholarship. A middle-class boy with ambitions, Abhimanyu sees his dreams come true when he befriends Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the son of a business tycoon. Together, the two share the limelight in the school’s campus. Things begin to go sour however when Abhi begins to fall in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), knowing the fact that Rohan is her boyfriend. As she begins reciprocating his approaches, a love triangle ensues, ending in a brawl between Rohan and Abhi. Their rivalry takes a step higher when the school’s gay and slightly-eccentric dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor), announces the annual school competition, the Student of the Year trophy.

The film’s protagonists then begin battling it out to win the trophy and Shanaya’s attention. The film also includes a special appearance by Farah Khan and Kajol and includes actor Boman Irani’s son Kayoze Irani making his Bollywood debut. Complete with a fantastic soundtrack, lots of enjoyable scenes and a well-crafted storyline, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year is indeed the film of the year!

Karan Johar’s mentee, Siddharth Malhotra, speaks about his walk to fame

“I came to Mumbai to be an actor,” says Bollywood fresh-face, Siddharth Malhotra. The young actor has been grabbing a lot of attention lately with his first big-screen appearance hitting cinema screens. The film, Student of the Year, has been well-received by the audiences and is a Karan Johar directorial venture. Before starring in Karan Johar’s campus romance, Siddharth worked as a model in Delhi and later on moved to Mumbai to audition for a film that however failed to take off. “I was modeling in Delhi with my agency and then came to Mumbai for a film to be directed by Anubhav Sinha after Cash,” said Siddharth Malhotra. “It was being produced by Adlabs. My parents were surprised and I had to show them my contract but luckily that film never took off. Then Anubhav started Ra.One. That's when I thought to stay back and try a bit out in the B-town.”

After this, Siddharth moved on to work as an assistant director to Karan Johar for the film My Name is Khan. “If it wasn't for the money I earned from my first producers for the film that didn't take off, I wouldn't have been here in Mumbai. That had to happen for me to come here. For me to try, I had to know how the film fraternity functions. So that's where assisting came up and I got My Name Is Khan.”

In the film Student of the Year, Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan) and Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) are dating. In the midst of it all, Abhimanyu Singh (Siddharth Malhotra), the new kid at school, falls in love with Shanaya and befriends Rohan, resulting in a love triangle. The school is presided over by Dean Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor), a gay and eccentric individual who organizes the annual Student of the Year competition, which forms the film’s basic premise.

Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan debut with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year

Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture is indeed one of the most popular movies released by Dharma Productions. The film follows his previous hits which include Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). Starring debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, Student of the Year brings to life campus romances and teenage love. The film is a coming of age movie and includes a love triangle between the characters played by Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. 

Student Of The Year

This Karan Johar film is set in the scenic Dehradun. With a prestigious school as its background, the story takes off with Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi (Siddharth Malhotra) walking into his new school. A boy from a middle-class background who knows how to stand his ground amongst the children of richer folk, Abhi manages to grab a load of attention from his peers. In the midst of it all, he meets Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan). Their rivalry turns to friendship after an incident that brings them together. On the other hand, Abhi ends up falling in love with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), despite the fact the Rohan is her boyfriend! This causes a love-triangle between the three. 

As the plot unwinds, the three join the Student of the Year competition, each trying to win the trophy for their own reasons. The competition is presided over by the school’s gay dean, Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor) who pushes the students to put on their competitive best. 

The film is a joyride indeed and gives viewers a peek at young love and the ups and downs of campus life. Released on the 19^th of October, 2012, Student of the Year was extremely well-received and has given Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Shawan and Alia Bhatt a perfect launch!

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year stars Rishi Kapoor as a gay school dean!

Student of The Year

The film Student of the Year has drawn a load of attention on its release, launching three fresh new faces, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film is the director’s fifth directorial venture after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). For Varun, Siddharth and Alia, Student of the Year is a dream debut indeed and has won the trio lots of acclaim and praises! Besides the fresh trio, this film also includes veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, Bollywood’s very own chocolate boy. 

The actor features as a gay Dean who has a soft corner on the school coach. Dean Yogendra Vasisht is an absolute delight and amusing character to watch and Rishi Kapoor’s excellent performance has been hugely appreciated. The character is believed to change the way gays are being portrayed. Speaking on the same Rishi Kapoor says, "Yes, the role is not a caricature in our film. Film characters depend on directors. In SOTY, it was a personal take by Karan, the director and Rishi, the actor."

According to Rishi Kapoor, it takes courage to suitably fit a gay character in a film. Karan Johar has certainly thought up his characters well. “It’s great victory for Karan, to make a film on this scale with newcomers. In today’s times, no one risks his money and position, especially at the stage where Karan is. It’s great for a man of his stature to spend enormous money on this film. He said his way of making a movie is the same, only the hero has changed. He has the guts, the gall to make a film with his vision, thinking. All the credit for SOTY goes to Karan.”

Catch Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Rishi Kapoor in Karan Johar’s most recent film, Student of the Year!

Student of the Year’s Alia Bhatt “will have to not take this success lightly”!

Alia Bhatt

“Getting love from fans and their appreciation, nonetheless, brings a different kind of a feeling in the actor within me. All I know is that I will have to not take this success lightly but try to put in all my sincere efforts in the right directions, in order maintain this success hereafter”, says newcomer Alia Bhatt who has recently made her big-screen debut with the film Student of the Year. Starring alongside Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan in the lead, the 19-year-old has left the audiences impressed and awestruck with her look in the film and her performance as a campus sweetheart.

"I'd never imagined that I'd get to do my first film with Karan Johar-it was a big deal for me! And even though he didn't have a big name in his movie, he never compromised on the film...he went all out and made it like he would make it with other stars. Karan put in a lot of faith in all of us and that made us feel confident about ourselves", says Alia Bhatt, praising her director-mentor Karan Johar.

The young actor plays the role of Shanaya Singhania in the film while Varun Dhawan plays her boyfriend, Rohan Nanda. Siddharth Malhotra plays the new kid at school, Abhimanyu Singh, who manages to gain Shanaya’s attention and affections, causing a love triangle. Unlike her on-screen character however, Alia isn’t the typical spoiled brat with a filmy background. "I'll be kicked out of the house if I expect any celebrity treatment. I'm not a celebrity at all. I'm just an actor and performer. A celebrity and a star is what the audience makes you. At home, I'm just the youngest person in this house, and that's what I'm treated like."

Besides the newcomer trio, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor also stars in this film. Rishi has donned an unconventional role of a gay school dean in this film who organizes the annual Student of the Year competition that forms the basis of this campus romance.

Kareena Kapoor rumored to star in Karan Johar’s next

Karan Johar might still be slightly hungover after Student of the Year, but that surely hasn’t stopped him from putting his mind to use yet again, writing films for the future. The director has previously directed the films Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), all of which have been blockbusters. His most recent film, Student of the Year, gave the box-office a hayday, raking in collections unlike never before!

Recently, there have been rumors of Karan planning a film with Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood’s favorite celebrity couple! However, Kareena went on to state that these plans haven’t been finalized yet and most of the rumors surrounding the planned film are false. "Karan had approached me for that film, we had a talk on it, but nothing is official right now. Nothing is concrete. Karan has a script in mind and he has offered me a role, but it's too early to talk about it," said Kareena Kapoor.

Also, Kareena Kapoor will also star in a film opposite Imran Khan that will be directed by Punit Malhotra. The film will be produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Previously, Kareena has worked under the Dharma Productions banner for the film Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu. Kareena also went on to add, "I will be more than happy to work with Karan. I am very comfortable working with him".

As for Karan Johar’s most recent film, Student of the Year is a campus romance with newcomers Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. In the film, Siddharth plays Abhimanyu, a middle class boy who enrolls at a prestigious school and befriends the campus sweetheart Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan). Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor also stars in this film, playing the role of a gay school dean Yogendra Vasisht, known for his eccentric behavior and meticulousness.

Karan Johar- And his passion for films

Karan johar

Karan started off his career as an actor in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the question is that, did he always wish to become a director? Or did he have interest in something else? He must have started off as an actor but now he has become a great director. May be he is just following his father’s footsteps, as his father, Yash Johar was also a well known director in Bollywood.

The production house known as Dharma production was established by his father. This production house has given birth to many hit films. Apart from acting and directing, Karan has also tried his luck on production, screenwriting, costume designing and also worked as a television host. He has excelled in almost all of these fields. His wonderful journey of movies started when he made his first directorial debut with the romantic-comedy, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

It was after the blockbuster release of the movie that Karan decided to never look back and so the league of Karan Johar movie started. He made a statement in one of interview before the film release that he was never sure of the script of his first film but after many attempts of finalizing, he decided to combine his first and the second story line and introduce the flashback sequence.

Karan has always experimented with his films; this can be projected through the different story lines of his movies. His movies doesn’t belong to a particular genre, there has been movies that had attracted critics like Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna and My Name is Khan because both of these movies were based on the themes such as adultery and religious discrimination.

He always motivates the young and new comers, and so in his productions he has introduced capable directors like Nikhil Advani, Tarun Mansukhani, Rensil D’silva and Ayan Mukherjee. He was so fond of the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai lead pair Sharukh and Kajol that he re-casted them in his family entertainer Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. After the success of all his other movies, Karan is currently working on his new project ‘Student of the Year’, with the completely new faces.

This is the first time that he has casted the fresh faces Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan. The story revolves around three friends who are involved in different kind of complications of life like the competition, hatred, jealousy, heartbreak etc.