Karan Johar believes Hindi cinema needs to get its gender politics right; calls Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi a ‘big victory’

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Karan Johar isn’t just skillful in movie-making but is also recognized for openly expressing his thoughts. Lately, he spoke freely about the state of Hindi films. The director of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani praised Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi as a significant triumph for cinema, simultaneously emphasizing that Hindi movies must address gender politics appropriately.

During a chat with Lilly Singh on her YouTube channel, filmmaker Karan Johar was questioned about what he believes Hindi cinema needs to progress. In reply, he openly acknowledged, “What we truly need is a proper handling of our political landscape.

As a devoted admirer, I acknowledge that cinema’s purpose is not just about offering grand-scale entertainment with stunning visuals, but also evoking joy and emotions. However, it’s crucial that we avoid misguided political statements, skewed gender politics, or incorrect social norms in the process. Essentially, adhering to the basics should suffice, ensuring we don’t sway from truth or accuracy.

The filmmaker voiced his worry that movies are achieving blockbuster status without delivering appropriate messages. He suggested that self-restraint might be the solution, stressing that true censorship doesn’t exist globally.

As per Johar’s perspective, when women accomplish success in India, it signifies a minor triumph for their gender. He used the instance of the movie Stree 2, starring Shraddha Kapoor, as an example. Although men in the film had substantial roles, the movie was primarily driven by a female lead.

Karan additionally discussed the film “Gangubai Kathiawadi” starring Alia Bhatt and brought up the topic of equal pay in Bollywood. He stated, “In my opinion, when Alia portrayed Gangubai Kathiawadi, it felt like a triumph for cinema. The character was largely shaped by her acting abilities, and it garnered more audience attention than several leading men who are established stars.

He highlighted this as evidence of a woman’s capability to direct a film in an industry traditionally dominated by men who ask for larger salaries, asserting that they contribute more to the profits. He emphasized that we are now witnessing a period when “female-led films are opening with significantly higher audience attendance than some prominent male actors, whose movies are experiencing poor box office performance.

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2025-02-11 13:52