Atlee’s Response to Being Called the ‘Atlee of Hindi Cinema’ – Should Karan Johar be Worried?
At the recent India Today Conclave Mumbai 2023, Atlee, the acclaimed director who marked his Hindi cinema debut with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Jawan,” responded to a question that had been on many people’s minds – should Karan Johar be worried about the title ‘Atlee of Hindi cinema’? The director’s candid response shed light on his journey in the film industry and the subtle differences that set him apart from Karan Johar.
Atlee, known for his action-packed films, reminisced about his first encounter with Shah Rukh Khan back in 2013 during an awards show. He shared, “This image was taken in 2013. I won the Best Debutant Director award down South. Shah Rukh sir was there to promote ‘Chennai Express’. I told his manager that I wanted a picture with him. He did not know who I was at that time. My friend introduced me as South India’s Karan Johar. He laughed, and he hugged.”
The ‘Atlee of Hindi cinema’ comparison came into play due to Atlee’s initial association with South Indian cinema, a journey that paralleled Karan Johar’s rise in the Hindi film industry. When asked about the comparison, Atlee gracefully acknowledged, “I started with South films; that’s why people called me ‘South Indian Karan Johar.’ I do action films, and I love Karan, sir. He really pushed me to do this Hindi film (‘Jawan’). But please don’t say that.”
In addition to addressing the comparison, Atlee also shared his views on the North vs. South cinema debate, emphasizing that cinema knows no boundaries. He stated, “Cinema doesn’t have any kind of classification. When we all sit in a theatre, we don’t know who is sitting next to us, what they are, or where they are from. That respect should be there in the making process also.”
“Jawan,” directed by Atlee and produced by Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, was released on September 7 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, the film features Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles, with Deepika Padukone making a special appearance. The ensemble cast also includes Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Girija Oak, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureshi, Ridhi Dogra, and Sunil Grover.
Speaking about the pan-Indian vision for “Jawan,” Atlee attributed the concept to Shah Rukh Khan, who believed that it should be a national film and a collaborative celebration of culture. Atlee expressed gratitude to the audience, acknowledging their ability to distinguish between good and bad cinema. He concluded by stating that it’s time to erase certain classifications, and anyone making films should be recognized as an Indian filmmaker and national collaborator.
As the Bollywood landscape continues to evolve, Atlee’s perspective adds depth to the ongoing discussions about the merging of North and South Indian cinema and the influence of renowned directors like Karan Johar and Atlee on this dynamic industry.