Yash
Raj
Films
has
been
doing
it
for
years
and
Karan
Johar
too
has
joined
the
fray
i.e.
giving
new
directors
a
chance
to
wield
the
megaphone
under
his
banner
Dharma
Productions.
In
the
past
Nikhil
Advani
and
Soham
Shah
have
made
Kal
Ho
Naa
Ho
and
Kaal
respectively,
for
Karan
Johar.
Now
Tarun
Mansukhani,
an
erstwhile
assistant
director
to
him,
has
been
given
the
responsibility
to
helm
Dostana.
Joginder
Tuteja
catches
up
with
the
31
year
old
filmmaker
who
is
just
days
away
from
what
is
pretty
much,
in
his
own
words,
his
'baby'
being
delivered!
The
film
is
less
than
a
week
away
from
release.
Nervous?
Frankly,
I
am
not
even
trying
to
think
about
the
release
date.
If
I
start
doing
so,
I
am
sure
I
would
collapse
(laughs).
I
am
taking
one
step
at
a
time
and
am
expecting
audience
to
walk
in
for
some
good
fun.
After
all,
it
is
a
Karan
Johar
production.
Was
it
like
'Let
me
shock
the
audience
with
a
theme
never
explored'
that
led
you
to
make
Dostana?
Not
at
all!
It
was
mainly
the
quest
to
do
something
new
for
my
debut
film.
I
wanted
to
make
a
film
that
has
an
identity
of
its
own.
One
thing
was
sure;
it
had
to
be
about
friendship.
When
it
comes
to
themes
like
marriages,
extra
marital
affairs,
living
in,
then
honestly,
they
all
have
been
over
and
done
with.
I
said
to
myself
-
'What
am
I
bringing
new
to
the
table'?
But
again,
I
didn't
want
to
make
a
very
serious
film
since
today
youngsters
are
ready
to
hear
you
only
if
you
don't
preach.
This
is
where
Dostana
came
in
since
it
has
its
own
light
hearted
moments
where
audience
can
come,
enjoy
and
have
a
blast.
A
movie
with
a
strong
gay
angle
to
it
-
Wasn't
it
a
risky
theme
to
begin
with?
Well,
I
always
knew
that
I
was
walking
on
a
thin
line.
And
no,
it
wasn't
like
I
was
wondering
how
Censors
would
react
to
the
film.
My
challenge
was
for
myself.
I
wanted
to
be
true
to
the
film
and
ensure
that
Dostana
doesn't
turn
out
to
be
about
gay
bashing.
None
of
us
want
to
make
any
fun
of
the
gay
community.
So
the
film
mainly
remains
as
sweet
and
naughty?
(Smiles)
True,
I
treated
Abhishek
and
John
as
a
couple
for
the
film.
Of
course,
in
its
essence,
Dostana
showcases
chemistry
between
two
friends.
Anyways,
looking
at
both
of
them,
they
are
the
epitome
of
being
macho.
So
ultimately
it
boils
down
to
friendship.
You
seem
to
be
enthused
with
the
spirit
of
friendship?
That's
right,
and
the
germ
for
that
comes
from
my
own
childhood
memories
of
school
time
friends.
I
have
lived
in
boarding
school
for
most
part
of
my
childhood
and
the
friends
that
I
have
today
are
the
ones
whom
I
got
in
touch
with
during
4th/5th
standard.
I
may
not
speak
to
them
for
years
but
they
are
a
family
whom
I
can
call
up
at
4AM
without
any
hesitation.
Then,
when
I
look
at
my
friends
in
the
industry,
I
see
them
doing
so
much
in
this
film
world.
Being
inspired
by
them,
I
had
to
bring
in
something
different
that
hadn't
been
touched
before.
Karan
Johar
too
is
your
friend.
But
with
him
as
a
producer
and
an
accomplished
director,
wasn't
it
intimidating?
I
have
worked
with
Karan
for
too
long
now
and
together
we
have
a
very
good
understanding
of
each
other's
requirement.
I
can
complete
his
sentences.
Moreover,
he
loves
me
too
much
and
I
am
almost
like
a
child
and
a
spoilt
brat.
I
have
a
chip
on
the
shoulder
and
ensure
that
I
get
what
I
want.
You
mean
to
say
there
was
no
interference
whatsoever?
I
will
give
you
an
example.
He
came
to
Miami
for
the
first
time
when
10
days
of
shooting
had
already
been
done.
Moreover,
he
admitted
that
he
was
in
the
city
to
chill
out
since
he
was
an
unemployed
producer
at
that
time
and
just
wanted
to
relax.
He
went
to
his
hotel
room,
shopped
around
the
city
and
later
I
showed
him
the
rushes
offline.
He
pointed
out
something
where
he
could
see
an
improvement
could
be
made
but
never
once
did
he
overshadow
me.
Abhishek
Bachchan,
for
all
his
worth,
has
been
going
through
a
horrible
patch,
especially
after
Drona.
Doesn't
it
worry
you?
I
am
not
worried
as
I
don't
think
flops
changes
anything
for
anyone.
So
many
times
it
happens
that
a
new
actor
gives
a
huge
hit
while
an
established
actor
could
give
the
biggest
flop
of
the
decade.
I
guess
at
the
end
of
the
day
for
audience
all
of
this
doesn't
matter
at
all.
They
want
to
watch
a
good
film
with
good
performances
and
the
past
record
of
an
actor
or
a
film
doesn't
have
any
bearing
whatsoever.
Yuvvraaj
comes
a
week
later.
Do
you
feel
it
could
prove
to
be
a
spanner
in
your
wheel?
I
am
a
first
time
filmmaker
and
not
even
the
league
of
big
directors.
In
any
case
what
do
I
have
to
loose?
I
am
not
even
looking
at
competition
let
alone
being
worried
about
it.
Story first published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 14:38 [IST]