Karan Johar Discusses Sidharth, Varun, and Alia's Stellar Debut in ‘SOTY’

Synopsis

Filmmaker Karan Johar reflects on his experiences with Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, and Varun Dhawan, the stars he introduced in 'Student of the Year'. He emphasizes the importance of treating them like stars from the beginning, which enabled them to deliver outstanding performances and set the stage for their successful careers.

Key Takeaways

Karan Johar believed in his actors' potential from day one.
He treated Sidharth, Alia, and Varun as stars, not newcomers.
The approach contributed to their stellar performances.
The film "Student of the Year" was a major box office success.
All three actors have become leading figures in Bollywood.

Mumbai, Feb 20 (NationPress) Filmmaker Karan Johar recently shared insights about his journey working with Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, and Varun Dhawan, the talented actors he introduced in "Student of the Year."

During a discussion on "Game Changers" with Komal Nahta, Karan highlighted the profound connection he has with the trio and his unwavering belief in their capabilities from the outset. When asked about his initial expectations before filming, KJo disclosed that he never regarded them as novices. Instead, he viewed them as stars from the very beginning, acknowledging their inherent talent and star presence. He believes this mindset enabled them to deliver outstanding performances and paved the way for them to become major stars in Bollywood today.

“No, I'm being honest, I won’t lie. For me, it was clear; I told my team - Siddharth and Varun, these two were my assistants, and I met Alia for the first time when she came straight from school. When I launched them, I instructed everyone on set, including the choreographer, production crew, and designer, to treat these three like megastars,” Karan stated.

The director elaborated on how the trio has become like family to him. “They questioned what that meant. I said, ‘If you instill that confidence in them, they will approach the camera like stars. If you treat them as newcomers, they will deliver the performance of newcomers. They performed like stars. They all refer to me as 'Karna'. They are like my friends. We conducted a 12-day workshop together to bond and understand each other,” he added.

Released in 2012, "Student of the Year" was a teen sports drama that marked the entry of Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra into the Bollywood industry. The film achieved remarkable success at the box office, earning over Rs 100 crore, and launched the careers of all three actors.