Karan Johar Makes SHOCKING Statements About Special Screenings: 'They Are Traumatic...'

Karan Johar has made a shocking claim about the industry in a new roundtable discussion. The filmmaker was speaking about his hit film, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, released in 2023 when he opened up about the pre-release screenings and the reactions he’s received during these screenings. He confessed screenings are ‘traumatic’ for him and that it’s his ‘worst mistake’ that he keeps making.

During a roundtable discussion by Galatta Plus, Karan confessed, “I’m sorry to say, the hatred, sometimes very strongly, comes from within the industry.” He explained, “Those trial shows are the worst. I don’t know why we have them. The most ‘thanda’ reaction will come from those screenings. Here, the industry comes and sits on a high horse. There are those that’ll walk out of a screening and give that look, like ‘well done’. Say something worthwhile, at least. Then there’s a very annoying section of people who’ll come and say, ‘Can I be honest?’ No, you can’t! My film is releasing tomorrow; praise me and go home. But they’ll take you aside and tell you what’s wrong with your film one day before (release).”

Karan admitted that he repeatedly falls into this trap, film after film. “The industry will break your film into first-half, second-half, but the audience does not do that. This is a trade phenomenon; nobody in the audience breaks a film into halves… And then the numbers start circulating. But how do you know? Are you a box office analyst? The saddest part of it all is that each time I fall prey to it because I am a filmmaker seeking validation…Those screenings are traumatic.”

He added, “The worst is that interval of silence. They meet you, but they say nothing. Or there are the ones who’ll say, ‘I’ll speak to you later’. Who are you, Steven Spielberg, that I should wait for the end? I’ve been to so many screenings, and I want to kill myself because I’m doing this to myself. Calling people, waiting like an absolute mad person outside for just validation. I suffered even with Rocky Aur Rani.”

Karan Johar’s last directorial film, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starred Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles. The film was an absolute winner for the audience and critics and a box office success.