How Karan Johar’s Journey Began? | Curly Tales #Shorts

Summary

Karan Johar shares insights into his journey as both a filmmaker and entrepreneur, highlighting his partnership with best friend Apurva Mehta, CEO of Dharma Productions. While Karan admits he isn't the sharpest business mind, he credits his success to Apurva's leadership and their collaborative approach. Reflecting on his father’s legacy in the film industry, Karan discusses how his instinct, backed by a strong team, guides his creative and business decisions. He emphasizes the importance of trust and instinct in finding the right co-founder and making long-term business decisions.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Karan Johar expresses excitement about his debut appearance on Curly Tales and admiration for the platform’s content.
• 💼 Though known primarily as a filmmaker and director, Karan Johar is also a successful entrepreneur with ventures like Dharma Productions, Dharmatic, restaurants, and jewelry.
• 🧠 Karan admits that his business acumen isn’t the sharpest and credits much of his business success to his CEO and best friend, Apoorva Mehta.
• 👬 Karan and Apoorva share a long history, having grown up together and attended the same school and college, which strengthened their professional partnership.
• 🎥 After the passing of his father, Yash Johar, in 2004, Karan felt lost but found stability when Apoorva left his job in London to join him in running Dharma Productions.
• 🏗️ Together, Karan and Apoorva have spent nearly 20 years building Dharma Productions and its various verticals into major creative and business successes.
• 🧩 Karan describes himself as a creative mind with marketing instincts, but acknowledges that his business achievements are due to strong support from his team.
• ✨ He believes that instinct plays a crucial role in both personal and professional decision-making, especially in long-term collaborations and creative choices.
• 📊 For financial and business-related decisions, Karan relies on advice from Apoorva, his bankers, and his lawyers, recognizing the importance of expert counsel.
• 🧭 Karan emphasizes that while instincts guide whom you choose to trust and work with, sound financial management and professional guidance are essential for success.

Q & A

Who is Karan Johar and what roles is he best known for?

Karan Johar is primarily known as a filmmaker and director, but he is also a well-established entrepreneur managing multiple ventures such as Dharma Productions, Dharmatic Entertainment, and other businesses in industries like restaurants and jewelry.

How did Karan Johar’s entrepreneurial journey begin?

His journey began after his father, Yash Johar, who was a film producer, passed away in 2004. Feeling lost without family support, Karan called upon his childhood friend Apurva Mehta to help him run Dharma Productions.

Who is Apurva Mehta and what is his role at Dharma Productions?

Apurva Mehta is the CEO of Dharma Productions and Karan Johar’s best friend. He is described as the business mind behind the company and its sister ventures like Dharmatic, Dharma 2.0, and DCA.

What was Apurva Mehta’s background before joining Karan Johar?

Before joining Karan Johar, Apurva Mehta was working in London. He left his business and job there to return to India and help Karan manage Dharma Productions after Yash Johar’s passing.

How does Karan Johar describe his own business acumen?

Karan admits that his business acumen is not the sharpest and credits much of his success to strong business-minded collaborators like Apurva Mehta. He sees himself more as a creative and marketing-oriented thinker.

What influence did Karan Johar’s father have on his professional philosophy?

Karan credits his father, Yash Johar, for teaching him life mantras, philosophies, and everything he knows about living within the movie business. His father’s influence continues to shape his approach to creativity and management.

How does Karan Johar make major professional decisions?

He relies heavily on instinct for creative and people-related decisions, believing that the first instinct is often the right one. However, for financial or monetary matters, he seeks counsel from experts like Apurva Mehta, bankers, and lawyers.

What role does instinct play in Karan Johar’s success?

Karan believes instinct is his superpower in decision-making. He claims that projects guided by instinct usually succeed, while those based purely on analysis or logistics tend to underperform.

How does Karan balance creativity with business responsibilities?

He uses his instinct for creative direction but depends on his team and advisors for financial planning. He recognizes the responsibility that comes with managing a large team and maintaining his professional image.

How long have Karan Johar and Apurva Mehta been working together?

Karan and Apurva have been collaborating for about 20 years, during which they have built Dharma Productions into a leading entertainment company.

What key insight does Karan Johar offer about partnerships in business?

He suggests that choosing the right business partner is instinctive—it's about sensing whether the relationship and energy will work long-term, which is crucial for sustained success.