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Economic Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Karan Johar reveals he laughs at the 'flagbearer of nepotism' tag: 'Watched my parents fail ...'
Synopsis Karan Johar, often critiqued for promoting nepotism, faced early hardships despite his father's production house, Dharma Productions. Initial box office failures led to financial strain, forcing the family to sell assets. Karan's directorial debut, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,' reversed their fortunes, establishing him as a prominent filmmaker after years of struggle and family sacrifices. Agencies Karan Johar's Journey: From a Producer's Son to Nepotism's Poster Child Karan Johar's name has often been linked to the raging nepotism debate in Bollywood. This association became particularly intense after actress Kangana Ranaut appeared on his television show Koffee with Karan in 2017 and referred to him as the "flagbearer of nepotism," in the film industry. Since then, public opinion has scrutinized Johar's career, especially his consistent introduction of star children such as Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and Ishaan Khatter. Many have accused him of prioritizing celebrity offspring over new talent. However, behind this image lies a story of struggle, family hardship, and delayed Johar is the son of Yash Johar and Hiroo Johar. While many assume he inherited an unshakable legacy, the truth reveals a turbulent past for the Johar family. His father, Yash Johar, founded Dharma Productions in 1980 and began with a commercial hit—Dostana, directed by Raj Khosla, featuring stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha. But the momentum didn't last. In the years that followed, Dharma Productions suffered a series of box office failures. Films such as Duniya (1984), Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987), Agneepath (1990), and Duplicate (1997) failed to impress audiences, while Gumrah (1993) saw only moderate success. These setbacks left the Johar family facing significant financial difficulties. The impact of these repeated failures was deeply personal. With no institutional financial support like studio funding or bank backing in those days, the Johars had to rely on personal assets to stay afloat. The family sold off property, including Karan's mother's ancestral home, personal jewelry, and the only land Yash Johar owned. Karan remembers how his parents tried to protect him from the stress, but as a child, he was still able to perceive the emotional toll it took. His mother's quiet moments of sorrow and the unspoken sadness that permeated their home left a lasting impression on him."Just watching them fail… And today, when there's so much chatter about nepotism, especially surrounding me, I laugh,' he said. "My father would have the biggest laugh. We weren't even on the radar of the most influential production house. We'd failed, stumbled, and fallen, but were still rising because my father was a good man and loved by the business.." he added. Despite these early setbacks, the Johar family's persistence paid off when Karan stepped into the director's chair. In 1998, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai hit the screens. Backed by Dharma Productions and featuring major stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, the film became a massive hit both in India and internationally. This success transformed Dharma's fortunes and solidified Karan's status in Bollywood. He followed it up with another blockbuster—the 2001 ensemble drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. By the time Kal Ho Naa Ho, a romantic drama he wrote and produced, was released in 2003, Dharma had re-established itself as a powerhouse. Sadly, this period of triumph was followed by tragedy—Yash Johar passed away from cancer in the industry today may associate Karan Johar with privilege, the path that brought him here was lined with setbacks and deep emotional experiences. His story is not simply one of inherited success but of enduring family struggles, artistic risk-taking, and eventual triumph after years of adversity. Despite public perception, Karan Johar's beginnings were anything but easy—and they continue to influence how he navigates both criticism and acclaim today.
Euronews
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
From skater girls to climate illusions: Meet the winners of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
ADVERTISEMENT The Sony World Photography Awards have unveiled the winners of their prestigious competition, now in its 18th year - shining a spotlight on the world's most powerful, thought-provoking, and visually arresting images of the past year. At a ceremony in London, British photographer Zed Nelson was named Photographer of the Year for his haunting and deeply timely series The Anthropocene Illusion , which explores humanity's fractured relationship with nature. From safari parks to synthetic green spaces , Nelson's images reveal a world where the wild is staged and the natural is anything but. The evening also celebrated the winners across the Professional, Open, Student, and Youth competitions - alongside a special tribute to legendary documentary photographer Susan Meiselas, this year's recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award. From intimate portraits of teenagers growing up in Northern Ireland's divided communities to celebrations of Indian women who defy gender stereotypes through skateboarding , this year's winning images are now on display at a sprawling exhibition at London's Somerset House, running until 5 May 2025. Here's a small selection from this year's most striking winning images: Zed Nelson: 'Anthropocene Illusion' (Photographer of the Year) A six-year journey exploring how humanity's devastating impact on the planet is masked by artificial, stage-managed experiences of nature. From the series 'Anthropocene Illusion' by Zed Nelson, UK, Photographer of the Year, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Zed Nelson From the series 'Anthropocene Illusion' by Zed Nelson, UK, Photographer of the Year, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Zed Nelson Olivier Unia: 'Tbourida La Chute' (Open Photographer of the Year) A photograph capturing the danger and excitement of the moment a rider is thrown from their mount during a tbourida , a traditional Moroccan equestrian performance. Olivier Unia, France, Open Photographer of the Year, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Olivier Unia/Dharma Prod Daniel Dian-Ji Wu (Youth Photographer of the Year) For his gorgeous image of a skateboarder doing a trick, silhouetted against a sunset in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Daniel Dian-Ji Wu, Taiwan, Youth Photographer of the Year, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Daniel Dian-Ji Wu Micaela Valdivia Medina: 'The Last Day We Saw the Mountains and the Sea' (Student Photographer of the Year) A project exploring the complexity of female prison spaces and the people who inhabit them, from the inmates to their families. It was carried out at the women's penitentiary centres of San Miguel, San Joaquín and Valparaíso, between the months of March and July 2024. Micaela Valdivia Medina, Peru, Student Photographer of the Year, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Micaela Valdivia Medina Toby Binder: 'Divided Youth of Belfast' (Documentary Projects, Winner) Documenting what it means for young people, all of whom were born after the peace agreement was signed, to grow up under this intergenerational tension in both Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland. Toby Binder, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Documentary Projects, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Toby Binder Chantal Pinzi: 'Shred the Patriarchy' (Sport, Winner) Captures the stories of young Indian women who use skateboarding as a form of resistance - challenging gender stereotypes and reclaiming public spaces. Chantal Pinzi, Italy, Winner, Professional competition, Sport, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Chantal Pinzi Gui Christ: 'M'kumba' (Sport, Winner) Illustrating the resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities in the face of local religious intolerance. Its name derives from an ancient Kongo word for spiritual leaders, before it was distorted by local society to demean African religions. Gui Christ, Brazil, Winner, Professional competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Gui Christ Laura Pannack: 'The Journey Home From School' (Perspectives, Winner) Exploring the tumultuous lives of young people in the gang-governed Cape Flats area of Cape Town, South Africa, where their daily commute carries the risk of death. Laura Pannack, 'The journey home from school', United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Perspectives, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Laura Pannack- The journey home from school Nicolás Garrido Huguet: 'Alquimia Textil' (Environment, Winner) Celebrating the ancestral dyeing techniques of artisans in Chinchero, Peru, highlighting their intricate, time-intensive craft and the natural materials they use. Nicolás Garrido Huguet, Peru, Winner, Professional competition, Environment, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: JRMStudio/Nicolás Garrido Huguet Rhiannon Adam: 'Rhi-Entry' (Creative, Winner) A project following artist Rhiannon Adam's extraordinary journey as the only woman selected for a civilian mission to the Moon - an ambitious art residency aboard SpaceX that was unexpectedly cancelled, leaving its chosen crew to grapple with broken dreams and unfinished futures. ADVERTISEMENT Rhiannon Adam, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Rhiannon Adam Seido Kino: 'The Strata of Time' (Landscape, Winner) Exploring Japan's post-war economic growth by overlaying archival photos from the 1940s–60s onto present-day scenes, highlighting how past development has shaped modern challenges like pollution and population imbalance. Seido Kino, Japan, Winner, Professional competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Seido Kino Ulana Switucha: 'The Tokyo Toilet Project' (Architecture & Design, Winner) Documents the striking, artful public toilets redesigned across Shibuya, Tokyo - capturing how functional architecture can transform everyday spaces into visually engaging, thoughtfully designed landmarks. Ulana Switucha, Canada, Winner, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Ulana Switucha Peter Franck: 'Still Waiting' (Still Life, Winner) A series of collages that explore moments of pause and uncertainty—capturing the quiet tension just before something changes. Peter Franck, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Still Life, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Peter Franck Antonio López Díaz: The Chad Olympic Team (Sport, 3rd place) A docuseries about four Chadian girls whose journey to become Olympic gymnasts in Spain sparks the creation of Chad's first gymnastics federation. ADVERTISEMENT Antonio López Díaz, Spain, 3rd Place, Professional competition, Sport, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Antonio López Díaz Alex Bex: 'Memories of Dust' ( Documentary Projects, 3rd place) Exploring the visual vocabulary of the cowboy, to consider new ways of presenting this archetype of masculinity. Alex Bex, France, 3rd Place, Professional competition, Documentary Projects, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Alex Bex Raúl Belinchón: 'The Mud Angels' (Portraiture, Winner) Documenting the aftermath of Spain's worst flooding in Valencia, and focusing on the young volunteers - dubbed the 'Mud Angels' - who selflessly aided recovery efforts. Raúl Belinchón, Spain, 2nd Place, Professional competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Credit: Raúl Belinchón
