"You can't compare MNIK with 3 Idiots" - Karan Johar

My Name Is Khan is just a few hours away from release and the obvious question that comes to mind is around the box office outcome of the film. With 3 Idiots setting such high standards at the box office and breaking the ceiling, doesn't it put an additional pressure on MNIK to perform further well?

It seems like this was the only ammunition that was waiting to find a way on the battlefield because Karan gets all fired up at this juncture. "I don't know why write-ups around one film taking a bigger opening than another or whether MNIK would be able to reach the highest slot when it comes box office openings keep appearing without any rhyme or reason. The kind of films that we are seeing today are all different from each other. Veer was different from 3 Idiots, just like My Name Is Khan is different from Veer. You can't be comparing a Guzaarish with a Kites. Or you can't be picking up a Raajneeti and start drawing comparisons with 3 Idiots. This is why I don't like the entire comparing business because all films are different from each other."

Calming down, he further goes on to extend his logic around difference in expectations that one must have when looking at two major films, "First and foremost we should be cognizant of the fact that comparing two entities never helps. A film should be allowed to breathe in the way it deserves to. Yes, now if only I would have made a film in a campus with students as my heroes then perhaps I may have compared it with 3 Idiots. But then just like you could never compare a Lagaan with a Dil Chahta Hai, similarly you can't ever compare MNIK with 3 Idiots or any other film."

Meanwhile, Karan is happy to be following the 'mantra' of making quality films without worrying much about their blockbuster fate.

"At Dharma Productions, we have great vibes amongst us", says Karan, "Everyone is quite passionate about filmmaking and we believe that we should always make films that we are proud of. Commercial success is important but not at the expense of something that would make us cringe later." No wonder, most of the first time filmmakers working with Karan are happy to be working in an environment that challenges as well as motivates them to make something worth remembering.

"I never ask my directors to give me a film that would fetch me 80, 100 or 120 crores. Once you do that, you only end up putting pressure on the poor guy. Instead, I want them to focus entirely on the subject in front of them and leave the box office in the hands of audiences. This is what Ayan Mukerjee did with Wake Up Sid and look how he passed with flying colours both critically and commercially. Similar was the case with Rensil D'Souza who ensured that there is definite quality component to Kurbaan", concludes Karan with a tone of appreciation.