Karan Johar has taken off to London for one and a half months to pen the script of his new directorial venture -- because he found Mumbai too distracting.

"My script just couldn't get written here. Too many distractions, too many social commitments, plus there's my new chat show ('Koffee With Karan'). I realised I couldn't write seriously in Mumbai," tells Karan.

For his chat show, Karan has got together provocative permutations of guests like Sanjay Leela Bhansali-Aishwarya Rai, Shabana Azmi-Shobha De and Gurinder Chadha-Farah Khan.

"It's meant to be a fun show, lots of tongue-in-cheek comments... But no offence meant to anyone," clarifies Karan.

Here's a sample of what the chat show has in store.

In the rapid fire round, Kareena Kapoor is asked who she thinks is a better director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali or Yash Chopra... and Sanjay Leela Bhansali is asked who he thinks is the worst actor.

Chuckles Karan: "I enjoy hosting the show. But I can't let my film suffer. I've to leave Mumbai if I want my script to be readied."

While he shapes what promises to be a film most unlike his trademark style of movie presentation, certain details are already in place, like the film's title and the cast.

It can safely be said that this film about intimate human relationships will star Shah Rukh Khan.

The leading ladies will come as no surprise to people who have been following Karan's progression as a moviemaker. Those actresses who had been trying desperately to mend bridges with Karan in the hope of getting into his new film are in for a big disappointment.

Incidentally, Kajol, who's such an integral part of Karan Johar's cinema, was keenly approached for a key role in his new film.

But since the film will require a longish period of shooting away from India, Kajol had to beg off because of her baby.

And, yes, there's a very important young male actor in Karan's film, working with him for the first time. He's definitely going to be the surprise element in the cast when it is divulged.

Says Karan: "Though the cast will largely be without surprises, I'm definitely moving away from 'The Karan Johar Style' in my new film, whatever that style might be.

"It's time for me to look at human relationships from another angle. I don't know where my creative urges are taking me. Right now, it's London."

In the meantime though, his new production "Kaal", directed by Soham Shah, is going on the floors.