Karan Johar regrets making OK Jaanu, says felt uncertain but ignored instincts

Filmmaker Karan Johar recently opened up about his regrets concerning the production of the film ‘OK Jaanu’. Released in 2017, the film was a Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam’s film ‘OK Kanmani’. Johar revealed that despite his initial doubts, he decided to proceed with the project. He now views the Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer a misstep.

In a conversation with podcaster Jay Shetty, the 53-year-old filmmaker reflected on the decisions leading up to the film’s production.

“At that time, Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor just had a hit, ‘Aashiqui 2’. They had already agreed to do the film, and the film came to me as a project. Ready. With a great remake. Shaad Ali–a great director. Wonderful actors. And yet, in my heart, I actually felt, ‘Should this film be remade?’ Because it is so much in the moment. ‘Can the moment be recaptured?,’” he stated.

Johar noted that the film’s underwhelming reception could be attributed to his decision not to trust his instincts. He commented, “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Everyone did their job well. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t the right move–and I didn’t act on it. Even today, I sometimes don’t listen to my instincts. And when I don’t, I go wrong. It’s a mistake I keep making.”

The 2017 release of ‘OK Jaanu’ was met with great anticipation, given its original success. However, it failed to resonate with audiences as expected.

Now, the film-maker is gearing up for the release of upcoming production ‘Dhadak 2’. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, the film is produced by Johar’s Dharma Productions. Starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, the film is slated for release on August 1.