Filmmaker Karan Johar says he can relate to Hansal Mehta's film "Aligarh" and every character in the film emotionally moved him.

"I related to the film, that means I related to each and every character. I was upset by the treatment meted out to the character by certain people, which means that it was performed efficiently," Karan said after the film's screening on Wednesday.

"More than having my sympathy, it had my thought engaged. It has made me think, it made me question, it's aroused me in a certain way and I think that's what films should do. It should make you get out of the cinema, think about it and have a strong opinion," he said.

The film is based on the real-life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor of Aligarh Muslim University who was removed from his job for homosexuality.

Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of the professor while Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist.


"I'm very emotionally moved by the film. Not just the outstanding performances by the lead actors Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao, Hansal Mehta has made a beautiful and a thought-provoking film," Karan said.

"It's important that producer and director have a responsibility that they make a film like this that not only move you and emotionally enrich you, but they also make you think after you go home. This film required everybody's support, I hope most people will be moved because it's a film that you must see," he said.

Some films such as "Fire" based on homosexuality faced protests in the past and the theme of homosexuality usually has a divided opinion in the country.

"I would really like to meet people who have an opinion against it, because that means those minds are perhaps not as evolved. But for people who feel the emotional energy of the film, I hope they spread the word and I hope that more people engulf their presence into this film," Karan said.

"Aligarh" is slated to release on February 26.