Launching two star kids in Dhadak, Karan Johar had to face a question indirectly related to his fondness for talent from star families. He played it well, speaking sensibly on the topic minus defensiveness. Answering a query about what were his main concerns when giving star kids a break, he responded, “…That they go beyond their name and create their own identity. This is both our responsibility and theirs.”
He continued, “Nowadays there is so much discussion over the word…” he said alluding to but refusing to name the nepotism term. “People forget that behind the name there is hard work, heart, passion. Keeping all this mind, it is important to understand that it is not easy to face the cameras, the audience and the media. They (referring to newbies Janhvi and Ishaan) are children and it is difficult.”
The Dhadak producer added, “I don’t want to mention the word which is being used the past two years… People are not here because of that word but because of their hard work.”
The nepotism controversy had hit when Kangana Ranaut called Dharma Productions’ head honcho Karan Johar a flag-bearer of nepotism on his talk show ‘Koffee With Karan’. Karan has often had to field allegations regarding nepotism, given that he has launched several star kids.
It had got so much for Karan that during an interview last year, he had declared, “Can we just put a hold on this word 'nepotism'? It haunts me. It has become like 'mera saaya' (my shadow). I told somebody that I have developed 'nepospasm'!” He had added that the word “has been following me everywhere. Suddenly, it has become fashionable. Can we just get rid of it and start focusing on good content?”
With Dhadak, he clearly intends to end the debate once and for all.
