Filmmaker Karan Johar is all set to direct "Student Of The Year" from Aug 16 and says he's more excited than nervous because this is his first movie with newcomers.

"More excited than nervous. This is the first time I'm working with newcomers. I hope all three of them Siddharth, Varun and Aliya turn out well. I feel they've humongous talent. But that could just be a proud parent's opinion. Next summer I hope the audience discovers them to be as talented as I did," he said.

"Aliya being the only girl between the two boys is being fully pampered. In any case, our production house Dharma Productions has a track-record of pampering heroines. Aliya is getting the full-on Dharma treatment. Our production house is like a spa for actors," he added.

Do you feel a sense of trepidation working with newcomers?

"Working with stars thrills me. This challenges me. After the experimental 'My Name Is Khan', making a masala film with newcomers poses a challenge of its own," said Karan.

Karan, who is at daggers drawn with Ram Gopal Varma, takes umbrage at Ramu's compliment for Amitabh Bachchan for his film "Bbuddah Hoga...Tera Baap".

"Absolutely disgusting. You can't talk about Amitabh Bachchan like that. If you praise him, you praise him with utmost dignity," said Karan.