Karan Johar carries Kajol's excess baggage

It is possibly the first time Karan Johar is facing trouble shooting for a film and giving his a hard time is apparently his good friend Kajol, also the leading lady of his movie “My Name is Khan”.

Karan first had a tough time convincing Kajol to do the film. She finally gave him the nod, but is now proving very difficult to please.

Reportedly, Kajol first asked Karan to give her more on-screen presence and Karan had to modify the script as per her requirement. She then refused to go to LA without her daughter Nysa, who initially couldn’t travel with her to Los Angeles because of a problem with her visa. Karan had a tough time convincing her to leave for LA without her daughter as his shooting schedule would have been disrupted if Kajol didn’t show up on time.

Now again Karan is said to be facing a problem. Kajol is apparently taking nine people along with her to LA. She, her daughter Nysa, her sister Tanisha, her mom Tanuja, her hair dresser and her fashion designer with assistants. And what’s more, she has even asked Karan to give Tanuja a small role in the film!

My Name is Khan heads to the White House

Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan is currently being shot in Los Angeles. But sources from the set say that the crew will be heading to Washington in the future as well. That’s because Johar plans to shoot a sequence at the White House as well.

“Karan wants to shoot a sequence at the White House. The film is set against the aftermath of 9/11 in America and keeping the storyline in mind, Karan thinks filming at the prestigious White House will be a coup of sorts for him,” says the source.

However, there are many complications involved with filming at the White House. First and foremost being that no one is allowed to film inside it!

“From what the officials have said no one has really been allowed to film inside the White House. Sure we can set up the crew and film it from the street like how most tourists do but what Karan wants is to be inside the main gates. Getting that isn’t going to be so easy,” says the source.

But knowing Karan Johar, he has the ability of managing things that others can’t. While shooting Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum, the director had rented the entire British Museum for the day for a hefty price - all for one sequence that has Hrithik Roshan dance on the long winding steps of the Museum.

Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan revolves around a Muslim called Rizwan Khan played by SRK who suffers from Aspergers syndrome (a form of autism which impacts social interaction abilities). US authorities detain him after mistaking his disability as suspicious behavior. Kajol plays his wife. It is believed that the film is based on a real life story.

KJO Unplugged!

He is known for playing his cards, or shall we say, brewing his coffee well ...always-be it as a producer, director, host or cameo actor. And of course he has his own set of humour that adds a flavour to every thing he does. Karan Johar gets candid with our correspondent.

Is it true that you have become a 'dietician' to Kajol and Kareena?
Oh my God! I expected you to start with DOSTANA and you shot the other way...(laughs). It's all right. See, I have not become a 'dietician' to Kajol and Kareena in a true sense, but I have given them some suggestions to abide by if they are interested in working in my next films. I have asked Kajol to lose some flab for MY NAME IS KHAN. And I told Kareena not to lose weight for an unnamed Dharma Productions film to be directed by a friend Rensil D'Silva.

I understand Kajol's weight loss, but Kareena's size zero is quite 'in' now...
That's a myth and may be a momentary craze. But the truth is Indian audience always prefers a healthy (not fat) heroine...this size zero concept is not for Hindi film heroines, at least that's what I feel.

You will be directing again after quite some time. Tell us more about MY NAME IS KHAN?
MY NAME IS KHAN is a film based on the psyche of a Muslim man whose name comes up in the suspect list of terrorists post 9/11. Yes, as usual, this film has Shah Rukh as the hero and Kajol as the heroine. And I will be directing a film after quite some time. The trio will be back to sizzle the screen after KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM. So you may as well call it my comeback as a director.

We heard it took you long to persuade Kajol to sign the film. True?
Kajol is always like that...she knows she can never say 'No' to me...still she tries in vain. But the point is, I am very happy that she has finally agreed to do the film because only she can play her character in the film.

Why is Shah Rukh an indispensable part of almost every Dharma Productions film? Is it because he sells?
Shah Rukh is definitely one of the biggest stars in Bollywood and his screen presence does make a difference. But the reason why he is in almost all our films is something different. My father (Yash Johar) was very fond of Shah Rukh, in fact he considered him to be family, which of course, SRK is. And when I decided to make films, he said: 'Beta, if possible, try to involve Shah Rukh in all Dharma Productions projects.' Besides, Shah Rukh has been a friend, philosopher and guide...it's an old association and old habits die hard.

Shah Rukh Khan arrive at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Exclusive: SRK and KJo on the sets of My Name Is Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Karan Johar have given us some of the biggest blockbusters of Hindi cinema such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Hence, when the trio is coming back with a film after a hiatus of nearly 8 years, then expectations are bound to be gargantuan.

Shooting for Dharma Productions' My Name Is Khan starring SRK and Kajol in lead roles is currently underway in and around Los Angeles. The buzz is that SRK plays a person suffering from Asperser's Syndrome (an autism related disorder) who gets into trouble with cops abroad especially because of his surname 'Khan'. Kajol plays SRK's better-half in the film. Even though the film has a serious undertone, with best buddies SRK, KJo and Kajol coming together, the atmosphere on the sets is one of fun and frolic.

SRK's witty one-liners combined with KJo's wacky sense of humor is sure to keep the unit members entertained. As for the film, all eyes are curious to see if these three best buddies can translate their real life Dostana onto reel-life one more time.

Why is Kareena gorging and Kajol starving

The two top actresses of Bollywood Kajol and Kareena are indeed doing as mentioned in our headlines! Kajol is on a strict diet and Kareena Kapoor has been asked to put on weight. Well, nothing to be surprised about. They are merely following instructions from none other than their producer, Karan Johar!

As is known both Kajol and Kareena are working under the Dharma Productions banner but in two different films. Kajol is doing Karan Johar's MY NAME IS KHAN and Kareena in the Rensil D'Silva directed Karan Johar produced film.

Kajol is scheduled to commence the shooting of Karan Johar's next directorial venture, MY NAME IS KHAN and for that Karan wants Kajol to shed a few kilos to look a part of her character. So he has asked Kajol to go on a strict diet of almonds (!). Surprised? Well, the healthy nut is known to help shed weight in a jiffy. As for Kareena, she has been asked to put on weight for the Rensil D'Silva directed Saif and Vivek starrer. Karan has told her forthrightly that he does not believe in the size zero figure for a Hindi film heroine and has requested Kareena to eat properly and put on a bit of weight.

And people thought becoming an actor was an easy job!

"Why should we copy movies?" - Karan Johar

The news-report states that Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar are making films with similar subjects and shooting at the same location. Let's get more specific: The two film-makers are making different films based on the same Hollywood film - ARLINGTON ROAD. While Adi's film NEW YORK is already complete [the film has been shot in Philadelphia] and will be Yash Raj's first release in 2009, Karan has commenced the shooting of his film, also in Philadelphia.

"Just because the two films are shot at the same location doesn't mean they have similar subjects," Karan Johar [currently in the U.S.] sets the record straight, "Earlier, they said KAL HO NAA HO was ANAND. Then they said DOSTANA was I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY. Now it's ARLINGTON ROAD. Why should we copy movies? Can't we come up with original stuff?"

Karan continues in the same breath, "Adi and I are best friends. Do you think we would go to the extent of choosing the same story? Just because the two films have the backdrop of terrorism doesn't mean they are similar in content. Going by this logic, even DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAAYENGE, KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, MOHABBATEIN and RAB NE BANA DI JODI have similar stories since they belong to the same genre."