My next movie has to be a lighter affair: Karan Johar (Interview)

Director Karan Johar wants to go back to 'song and dance' movies after 'My Name Is Khan', which is about the journey of an unusual couple living in the US post- 9/11 terrorist attacks.

'I have given my three years, heart, soul and body to 'My Name Is Khan'. Now I would love to get back to songs and dances. I guess it's the need of the hour for me,' said Karan who is known for making light movies like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'.

'Making a film is all about the state of mind - three years back I felt that I had to tell the story of 'My Name Is Khan'. Perhaps after making my 'song and dance' film, I would be fed up again and make something else thereafter. However, as of now I am very clear that my next movie has to be a lighter affair,' he said.

Talking about the trigger point that led to conceptualising of 'My Name Is Khan', he said: 'It was basically a film that was needed to be addressed. I had certain feelings and wanted them to be translated for screen. Moreover, this idea also required me to get out of my safety zone.'

Releasing Feb 12, 'My Name Is Khan' stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol and Karan worked with writer Shibani Bathija on the movie. He did a lot of research work for the movie.

'More than just the visual presentation on screen, what was of pertinent importance was the fact that 'My Name Is Khan' required a lot of external research. All this while it was about my own world with which I was comfortable but here I was looking at certain perceptions which are a global phenomenon.'

It has been reported that 'My Name Is Khan' is picking upon the issues and challenges faced by Muslims globally and aims at addressing them through the medium of cinema.

'Please let me set the record straight that 'My Name Is Khan' is not an issue- based film. Instead it's a human drama about a couple. The film will make you smile and result in tears in your eyes.

'At the end of it all, it's a human film with emotions that are universal. It's a film which connects with you. But I'm not taking forward the baton of an issue. Instead I am just using it as a part of the narrative.'

'My Name Is Khan' also stars Soniya Jehan, Jimmy Shergill, Zarina Wahab, Parvin Dabbas, Arif Zakaria, Navneet Nishan, Sheetal Menon, Arjun Mathur and child artist Tanay Chheda seen in 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

A co-production of Karan Johar and Gauri Khan, 'My Name Is Khan' is being marketed and distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

(Joginder Tuteja)