After a 5-year break, Karan Johar returns with Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. He talks exclusively to Subhash K Jha about its making

Q: Everyone's curious about your new film.
A: What for? I'm just an ordinary director making an ordinary film. I guess the curiosity arises from this being my first film since Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, in 2001. Like K3G, Kabhi Alvidaa too has a huge cast. So there are bound to be expectations. Films that involve Shah Rukh and me are usually talked about.

They've been very successful in the past. But people's expectations scare me. In my films I've tackled marriage, an institution I'm not familiar with. I'm 33 years old and greying. I was quite tired of being counted among the new generation of film-makers. I'm not young anymore – I've been in the industry for 10 years, and am qualified to tackle such a mature subject.

Q: So you haven't done any research for the film?
A: No, except for emotional research. My cinema is always a result of personal observations. I don't read, listen to current music or rush to watch every film in town. My education comes from past Hindi cinema and music. I observe strangers, or friends at parties...

However, Kabhi Alvidaa isn't about real people. It comes from a space I don't personally know, although I do understand it. I created the characters for various reasons. I hope to God no one connects personally with these characters.

Q: Much of the film is ready. Does it look as unconventional as people believe it does?
A: I don't know what people expect from my new film. I've just made what came naturally to me at this point. I've always been a member of the audience even while making a film. Kabhi Alvidaa is a human drama. It's about marriage and other adult relationships.

The last time I directed a film it was rumoured to be modelled on Yash Uncle's Kabhie Kabhie. This time it is being said that I am remaking Silsila. It's also supposed to have elements of the film Closer. But that's not true.

I admire Yash Chopra more than any film-maker. That's why I would never dare remake his films. But all of us film-makers are perfectly capable of doing original work. We just need to apply ourselves.

Q: So what's Alvidaa about?
A: I don't want to say much. Anything I say can, and will be, held against me (laughs). All I can say is it's a Hindi film like any other. I've just fine-tuned it differently.

Q: Is Shah Rukh Khan portrayed differently in this one?
A: Who am I to even try to present him differently? There has never been an actor like him. He's my hero and brother. I don't have to think about how he'll play a character. He does all the thinking on his own.

The character comes from my heart. And then Shah Rukh takes over. He gives a sub-text, graph and everything that a character needs. I wrote a simple character. He gave it the right nuances and complexities.

Q: What about Abhishek Bachchan?
A: You know, to direct someone whose birthday party you've attended as a child, is an emotional experience. I've watched him grow up, go out of the country and go through a period of trial and error as an actor. We all feel so proud of him. For Abhishek, shooting is a party. He's a super-brat.

Q: And Amitji?
A: Just working with him is an honour. I'd say Amitji's character is flamboyant; a very unusual character compared with what he has played so far.

Q: And Rani Mukherji?
A: I love Rani as a person and a performer. She stood by me when I was just starting out. She has been in touch with me nearly every day, throughout the years, without expecting anything in return. She's like my kid sister. That eclipses her other equally important ability as an actor. Today she's a rock-solid professional. She did everything to get her character in Alvidaa right.

Q: What about her animosity with Preity Zinta?
A: Totally untrue. Problems happen when the navigator is weak. I don't see myself as a weak captain of the ship. Rani and Preity share very little cinema space in my film. And they got along very well. Just because there were a whole lot of stars together in New York doesn't mean that they didn't get along.

Q: So how was the shooting stint in New York?
A: It was the most difficult phase of my life. Those were the toughest three months ever. There were production problems, locations issues and a hurricane, plus everyone was away from home... To shoot away from home, away from sets isn't easy. In a studio you're a master of your space. But I still prefer shooting on location. That's where real emotions come in.

Q: What have those three months taught you?
A: Today I'm a better production person. I've grown older. Got more grey hair. We made lots of mistakes...there were lots of indulgences which we could've avoided. The film could've looked the same at a much lower cost.

Q: Is your production company going to merge with Yashraj Films?
A: We've been together in every way for a long time. I'm still structuring my own production house. Yashraj distributes my films worldwide. To me, Dharma and Yashraj are one and the same.