Karan Johar on Bollywood’s Big-Budget Films: “Box Office Has No Rules”

Defending Bollywood’s Performance

At a recent press meet for Mirai, Johar addressed concerns about the underperformance of large-scale productions. When asked whether high production costs and inflated star fees were responsible, he dismissed the idea, instead pointing to the unpredictability of cinema.

“Every film has its own destiny,” Johar explained. “There have been many occasions where films with big stars have worked, and others where they haven’t. Today’s actors understand the importance of contributing to the vision of the film. It’s not as simple as saying that casting newcomers or mounting a big vision guarantees success.”

Not Every Musical Becomes Saiyaara

Johar highlighted the importance of perspective, noting that cinema evolves constantly and no formula ensures success. “There are different eras, films, and experiences,” he said. “Now, many musical films will be released with newcomers, but that doesn’t mean all of them will become a Saiyaara. Animation films will also come, but they won’t necessarily replicate the success of Mahavatar Narsimha. The box office has no rules.”

His comments drew attention to Saiyaara, starring debutant Ahaan Panday alongside Aneet Padda, which became a runaway success with ₹569.75 crore in box office earnings against a ₹50 crore budget. Similarly, the animated film Mahavatar Narsimha grossed ₹319 crore worldwide, proving that unique storytelling resonates with audiences regardless of genre or scale.

Storytelling at the Core

For Johar, the real measure of success lies in narrative strength. “Storytelling remains the cornerstone of cinema,” he emphasised. “Ultimately, it is the audience that decides whether a film earns love, respect, and commercial success.”

About Mirai and Upcoming Projects

Johar is currently backing Mirai, directed by Karthik Gattamneni and Anil Anand, starring Teja Sajja, Shriya Saran, Jayaram, and Jagapathi Babu. The film is set for release on 12 September.

His production house also has Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari on the horizon, directed by Shashank Khaitan and featuring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf, and Sanya Malhotra. The romantic drama is scheduled to release on 2 October.