Wrong to categorise commercial films as theatrical releases, alternate cinema for OTT: Karan Johar

Mumbai, Nov 21 (PTI): Filmmaker Karan Johar says he doesn’t believe in the common perception among storytellers that commercial films are meant for theatrical release and art-house films are ideal for digital platforms.
Johar was speaking at the trailer launch of his upcoming production “Govinda Naam Mera”, which is slated to be released on the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar on December 16.
“This divide, I think we have created ourselves… that commercial films are theatrical and that alternate or slightly off-the-cuff films for digital (release).
“We thought Disney+ Hotstar is a wide platform and the film can reach many more houses. I believe this mainstream masala twisted entertainer (‘Govinda…’) has got a beautiful house. So, there are no second thoughts,” the producer told reporters on Sunday night here.
Starring Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani, “Govinda Naam Mera” is a comedy crime-thriller that tells the tale of an underdog. It is directed by Shashank Khaitan.
The film is yet another “different” offering from his production house Dharma Productions, said Johar.
Mostly known for extravagant romantic and family dramas with leading stars of the Hindi film industry, Dharma Productions has been unfairly slotted as a banner that makes a certain kind of cinema, he added.
The 50-year-old filmmaker gave the examples of the studio’s diverse filmography that includes a big-scale spectacle like “Brahmastra” and a complex family drama with “Kapoor and Sons”. “Similarly, I have directed ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…’ and also ‘My Name is Khan’. Everyone has their own perception of what we make, they think Dharma Productions will make only certain kinds of films and no matter how much we have broken the myth,” he said.
Johar said Dharma Productions is often overlooked when it serves a “different” film.