Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is known for his larger-than-life films and star-studded launches, but behind the glitz lies a different reality.
The filmmaker recently revealed that his banner, despite its big name, doesn’t rake in the kind of profits people imagine. He even admitted that Bollywood often looks far more dazzling from the outside than it truly is.
Dharma Productions Is ‘Nothing’ When It Comes To Profits
At an event for the promotion of Mirai, KJo said, “As they say, our industry looks better from the outside. When I talk to industrialists and other members of the corporate industry, we are nothing… They look at our P&L statements, and they say, ‘That’s it? Is this all you have to show for all the work you do?’ And my response is always, ‘In our business, we don’t look at numbers, we respond to hearts. We make movies not with our brains, but with our hearts.”
Last year, the filmmaker sold a 50 per cent stake in his production house to Serum Institute’s CEO Adar Poonawalla, who reportedly invested Rsa 1000 crore in it.
Box Office Has No Rules: Karan Johar
Karan also addressed the uncertainty at the box office over the past few years. He pointed out that even films with major stars have failed, while others with fresh talent have succeeded, showing there’s no fixed formula for success. He added that actors today understand the importance of contributing to a film’s overall vision rather than relying solely on star power.
Karan said, “There are different eras, films, and experiences. We have watched so many films that actually keep changing our narratives. 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 also won’t necessarily become Narsimha Mahavatar. Box office has no rules.”
Dharma’s upcoming production is Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Sunny Sankaari Ki Tulsi Kumari. It hits the screens on October 2.