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Tamannaah Bhatia says that her favourite quality of Karan Johar is his ability to laugh at himself, which is something that not a lot of people from Bollywood can do.
Tamannaah Bhatia collaborated with Karan Johar for the first time on their recently released web series, Do You Wanna Partner.
The internet, including members of the film fraternity, are divided about their opinions of Karan Johar. Time and again, he has been at the receiving end of incessant trolling by the social media for his sartorial sensibilities and flamboyant demeanour. And with Kangana Ranaut labelling him ‘the flag-bearer of nepotism’ on Koffee With Karan 5, netizens haven’t stopped criticising him for serving opportunities to nepo-kids on a silver platter. While Karan did reveal that criticisms impacted him once, he has now developed a thick skin.
Now, Tamannaah Bhatia, who has collaborated with him for the first time on Do You Wanna Partner, admits that there are quite a few misconceptions surrounding the filmmaker but that they aren’t true. Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, she reacts to them and states that he has never shied away from hyping up outsiders. “As a person, I think he’s extremely warm and welcoming and he champions people who’re from the industry and those who aren’t from the industry,” she tells us.
Tamannaah also lauds Karan for his female characters and giving them the opportunity to do as much heavy-lifting as the men in the movies. Talking about how he defied stereotypes with his debut directorial, she remarks, “Basis the interactions that I’ve had with Karan, I’ve recognised that he’s also somebody who understands the importance of making films with very strong female characters, right from very beginning. In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the protagonist was a tomboy. It was new for that time and age.”
Lauding him for backing Alia Bhatt-led Raazi and setting an example, she says, “Even in Raazi and many other films, he constantly channels women who’re extremely nuanced, complex and interesting. He has always been the spokesperson of that. So, when Do You Wanna Partner came to me, I was very excited. It makes all the sense why Dharmatic would back a show like this. He has always championed women for who they really are and this show is just another example.”
The Babli Bouncer and Jailer actor further continues, “Maybe, Karan has an in-depth understanding of women but he isn’t validated enough for that. He’s a person who has consistently done that for many, many years now. Many a times, he has and continues to be the face of great causes while he enjoys being in this set-up of glamour and is his fun self. He’s a great example for how to take the responsibility of the industry that he belongs to and he holds that very proudly.”
However, the one thing about Karan that truly strikes a chord with Tamannaah is his self-deprecating humour and novel ability to mock himself. “My favourite quality of him is that he can laugh at himself. This is something not a lot of people from the industry have. But he constantly makes fun of himself. I also love the way he talks on stage or any platform for that matter. He can truly hold his own. So, it’s always interesting to hear him speak,” she tells us.
Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break…Read More
Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break… Read More
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September 13, 2025, 05:00 IST
