Filmmaker Karan Johar, who is backing Teja Sajja’s upcoming film Mirai, recently defended the Bollywood industry amidst a year of underperforming big-budget productions. Speaking at a press meet for the film, he was asked if high production costs and inflated star fees were to blame, but he dismissed the notion, stressing that “every film has its own destiny.”
”All the actors have started understanding now that they have to contribute to the film’s vision,” he explained, stating that they are becoming more cooperative. He argued against placing films into a rigid box of expectations, saying, “You can’t say anything for sure.” He added that a film’s success is not guaranteed by a big vision or young actors, citing multiple examples of such films that have failed.
Karan emphasized that different eras bring different narratives, and that the audience ultimately determines a film’s success. He used two recent examples to support his point that there are no rules for the box office. He mentioned Saiyaara, a massive success starring a debutant, which earned an impressive ₹569.75 crore at the box office against a reported budget of ₹50 crore. He also highlighted the success of the animated film Mahavatar Narsimha, which grossed ₹319 crore worldwide.
Ultimately, Karan stressed that storytelling remains the cornerstone of cinema and that the audience’s verdict is what truly matters.
Directed by Karthik Gattamneni and Anil Anand, Mirai stars Teja Sajja, Shriya Saran, and Jayaram and is scheduled for release on September 12. Karan Johar’s other upcoming production, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan and starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, is slated for release on October 2.