Karan Johar made a nostalgic return to the Cannes Film Festival after 12 years, attending a special session at the Bharat Pavilion where he reflected on his long-standing association with the prestigious festival and his emotional memories of visiting with his late father, producer Yash Johar.
Karan Johar recalls selling Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Rights for just $5000 as he returns to Cannes after 12 years
Speaking at the Bharat Pavilion—organised by NFDC and FICCI under the aegis of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting—Karan recalled a defining moment from 2002 when he accompanied his father to the festival. “I have a lot of emotional memories of Cannes. I remember it was 2002 when I came here with my father. He struck a deal here and we sold the European rights of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham for five thousand dollars,” Johar shared with the audience.
The anecdote struck a chord with attendees, as Johar continued, “I thought it was very less and I asked my father about it. He told me, ‘Look, we have to make a start somewhere.’ He wasn’t there to see the cultural movement we created with Bollywood films.”
The session also saw the filmmaker reflect on the same year he watched the screening of Devdas at Cannes. “Aishwarya and Shah Rukh were on the red carpet. Aishwarya is literally like the queen of Cannes. Every time we are here, Ash creates a huge amount of media energy and excitement,” he recalled, drawing smiles from the audience.
Johar also spoke of his 2013 visit to the festival with Bombay Talkies, which he co-directed with Anurag Kashyap and Zoya Akhtar. “That year, I met Guneet Monga and watched The Lunchbox. It was doing so well, and I decided to present the film to Indian audiences,” he added.
Returning this year alongside director Neeraj Ghaywan for their film Homebound, which is being screened under the Un Certain Regard category, Johar described the experience as a full-circle moment. “I have so many memories attached. I haven’t been here for the last 12 years. Coming back to the Bharat Pavilion feels like going back 21 years. My father was here so many times—it feels like home.”
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