by Subhash K Jha

Guess who's Karan Johar's favourite actor? The answer isn't Shah Rukh Khan. It's Jaya Bachchan!

Karan just can't do without her. In New York shooting for his new film, stressed over-worked and anxious Karan laughs at the mention of his Jaya Aunty.

"She's a darling....almost a second mother. And I know how upset she is with me...For no other reason except the fact that she isn't part of my filom's cast when both Amit Uncle and Abhishek are. I can't help it.

"There was no role she could fit into. I know she had small roles in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Na Ho. But they were roles and character substantiated by Jaya Aunty's presence. This time I just couldn't find a place for her."

When told about Karan's regret, the fabulous Mrs Bachchan whose performances from Uphaar and Guddi in 1971 to Kal Ho Na Ho and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma in present times, have defined the strong selfcontained middleclass heroine, laughs.

"I know. I've been grumbling about not being part of Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. I feel left out. Karan is like Abhishek to me and my husband. I can't imagine not being part of anything he does."

While Mr Bachchan proceeds to New York to join his son and Karan , Jaya leaves a day earlier to be part of the UN assembly. She'll be staying in the same hotel as Karan's unit , which would make things worse.

"I am sorry," Karan responds. "It will never happen again. I don't think I'll ever make a film without Jaya Aunty."

Incidentally when Karan's father Yash Johar died he had asked Mr Bachchan to take the father's place.

"We're one family," Karan says about the Johars and Bachchans.