Karan Johar
Producer, director, talk show host and an entrepreneur - Karan Johar is one of the most notable Indian filmmakers today with the honour of being a Padma Shri awardee. The multi-faceted Karan wears many caps with ease. Besides being an acclaimed director in the Indian film industry for the past 25 years and one of the most influential men today - Karan is also a television personality, a talk show host and a mentor to new talents across the spectrum. His talk show ‘Koffee With Karan’ has the distinction of being the most watched English talk show on Indian television and is now ruling over the OTT space as well. In addition to personal success and accomplishment, Karan Johar has also been a mentor to many successful directors in India. Directors have flourished under his guidance and support as a producer, releasing both commercial blockbusters like Agneepath, Dostana and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Shershaah (a national award winning film) & the recent blockbuster, Brahmastra - as well as critical successes like Wake Up Sid, Kapoor & Sons & Gehraiyaan. Marking his 25th anniversary year as a director, he released his directorial ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ which has within thirty days of its release become the highest grossing romantic-comedy Hindi film overseas. He also successfully built three branches of the Dharma empire - Dharmatic Entertainment, Dharma 2.0 and Dharma Cornerstone Agency.
The name Karan Johar is synonymous with prestige, elegance, versatility and success. He is amongst a prolific group of Indian filmmakers who have brought about a fresh and modern outlook to Indian commercial cinema and has contributed greatly to the transformation of Hindi cinema from his very first film.
Other movies
HIJRA
Director: Shahad Ameen
A grandmother and her two granddaughters journey from Taif to Mecca. When the eldest granddaughter vanishes, the two remaining women travel north to find her, with their search highlighting the deep cultural and generational bonds between Saudi women. Set against the backdrop of the Hajj pilgrimage, Hijra portrays the intimate and emotional odyssey of these women, which evolves into a spiritual quest. Their journey carries the weight of an entire heritage and offers an emotional, powerful and insightful look at identity. Shot across eight Saudi cities, the film provides a deep dive into the nation’s rich cultural tapestry. Actress Khairia Nazmi infuses the story with profound emotion due to her strength and energy.
LOST LAND
Director: Akio Fujimoto
In this quietly powerful, first-ever Rohingya-language feature, Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto offers a haunting, intimate portrait of two siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar. With nothing but vague directions and each other, nine-year-old Somira and her younger brother Shafi begin a harrowing journey to join an uncle in Malaysia, crossing borders by sea and land and navigating a world shaped by smugglers, fear and exploitation. With a cast of non-professional actors, most of whom lived refugee experiences, the film blends realism with lyrical restraint. Eschewing melodrama for quiet observation, Fujimoto captures the disorientation of displacement and the uncertainty of fragile hopes. Lost Land is a timely, deeply human reflection on survival, resilience and the Rohingya’s eternal search for a place to call home.
GHOST SCHOOL
Director: Seemab Gul
This gentle yet arresting debut feature from Seemab Gul centers around 10-year-old Rabia, a clear-eyed, logical-thinking, courageous child protagonist who wants to understand the real reason for the abrupt closure of her school. Rumours start that the school is haunted and her teacher is possessed by supernatural beings. However, her day-long quest for the truth, fuelled by her simple desire for an education, leads her into an adult world that has been plunged into superstition. What soon becomes clear are the machinations behind a corrupt regime and classist society, giving way to the nature of its real victims. Ghost School is a bittersweet portrayal of injustice for Rabia and the hope of a better future for all younger generations.