Karan Johar says no one will allow Shah Rukh Khan to play ‘mellow characters,’ calls Aamir Khan ‘the real game changer’

NEW DELHI, SEP 24 (ONLINE): Karan Johar, in a recent interaction, opened up on how Hindi cinema’s biggest actors tend to shy away from experimenting with roles. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Karan placed some of the blame on the audience, explaining that they haven’t been receptive to Shah Rukh Khan’s more experimental roles in

films like Paheli and Asoka. He shared that the pressure of maintaining a superstar image often prevents actors like Shah Rukh from taking on offbeat characters. Karan also lauded Aamir Khan, calling him a “game changer” for consistently choosing diverse roles in films such as Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti, and Dil Chahta Hai.

He elaborated, saying, “I think Aamir would do. Lagaan is one of those films that will go down in Hindi cinema’s history. In that same year there was Gadar, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Dil Chahta Hai, so that year was very iconic for Hindi cinema. There was Chandni Bar as well. But the business was Gadar. It was mainstream film and it did maximum business that year. Lagaan won a nomination at the Academy Award, so Aamir still did films like Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti and Dil Chahta Hai. He changed the texture. He also did Ghajini, which actually brought back the culture of remake in Hindi cinema. I think he is real game changer.”

Defending Shah Rukh Khan, Karan pointed out that the megastar did attempt to experiment with his roles, saying, “It’s not that Shah Rukh didn’t try. He did Paheli, Asoka. Shah Rukh comes from the mindset to do different things and to make a difference. When he started he worked with Kundan Shah, Ketan Mehta, Mani Kaul.”