Karan Johar’s Dharma Production is one of the most successful production in the Indian cinemas, founded by father Yash Johar. The filmmaker recently took a trip down memory lane how Dharma Productions’ once faced setback.
Back then, Karan Johar being initially a middle class boy shared about how his family sold properties when Dharma Production faced setbacks.
He said, “Right after Dostana, Papa saw a series of about five failures. He had a small export division, which he wanted me to take over eventually. During those days, we used to get movies financed. Financers would give us money and we would pay them back with interest. When one of the films failed, my mum (Hiroo Johar) sold my nani’s flat, and when another faced the same fate, she sold some of her jewellery. My father had to sell a little property he had in Delhi. These are the stories I have heard.”
Karan continued saying, “Fortunately, though coincidentally, my first, second, and third films did really well. My father passed away after that. Then I took over Dharma. A lot of the money that we have made at Dharma has been made since I started directing. I feel very proud that I could live my father’s dream. I worked very hard. There have been times when I worked for 18 hours a day. I work through weekends and national holidays. I work every day. I work for about 16 to 20 hours every day. I sleep for only five hours. I work very hard for the money I have made. I am never going to apologise for that.”
Further he asked, “I believe joy is very critical. I don’t want to apologise for spending money on things that give me joy. I love shopping; it’s therapeutic for me. Why should I apologise for the wealth I earned through hard work?”