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Last Updated: March 20, 2025, 07:55 IST
Karan Johar reminisces about the Punjabi roots of Bollywood directors
During the recent trailer launch for Dharma Productions’ inaugural Punjabi film, Akaal, renowned filmmaker Karan Johar reflected on the significant influence of Punjabi culture on the Bollywood film industry. Johar, whose father Yash Johar was of Punjabi descent, noted that many early producers and directors hailed from Punjab, creating a lasting impact on the industry.
In his remarks, Karan shared, “In my youth, nearly all producers and directors were Punjabi. From Manmohan Desai to Yash Chopra and J Om Prakash, the language spoken on set was predominantly Punjabi. The lead actors often came from Punjab, while heroines typically represented the South Indian community. This cultural dynamic formed a kind of blueprint for filmmaking.” He humorously recounted how his father would converse with distributors in Punjabi each morning, highlighting the personal implications of this cultural background. “I was fluent in Punjabi due to my upbringing, but I faced confusion when my mother would switch to Sindhi,” Karan added.
Karan also provided insights into contemporary practices in the industry, sharing a light-hearted anecdote about superstar Akshay Kumar. He explained that during negotiations with Apoorva Mehta, Akshay often opts to converse in Punjabi when he wishes to keep his intentions discreet from others. “These days, if Akshay Kumar wants to communicate something without Apoorva understanding, he speaks to me in Punjabi,” he remarked with a chuckle.
As Dharma Productions prepares to celebrate the premiere of Akaal, which is set for release on April 10 in both Hindi and Punjabi, Karan expressed his excitement. Reflecting on the partnership with filmmaker Gippy Grewal, Johar stated, “Like they say in Jerry Maguire, ‘You had me at Hello.’ My enthusiasm was sparked when I first heard Gippy Grewal’s idea.” He extended his gratitude to Grewal for collaborating with Dharma Productions on this venture.
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