Karan Johar: Bollywood’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Nepotism
- Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar believes the Hindi film industry is currently plagued by "herd mentality." He argues that many are simply trying too replicate the success of others,...
- Johar told Bollywood Hungama that filmmakers are rushing to create similar mass masala films and horror-comedies.
- The director of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil advocates for original thought.
Award-winning filmmaker Karan Johar diagnoses Bollywood‘s core issue: not nepotism, but a pervasive “herd mentality.” Johar, in a candid interview, reveals the industry’s tendency to copy blockbuster formulas, hindering innovation. He points out how filmmakers are rushing to replicate the success of films like Pushpa 2 and Stree 2, instead of prioritizing original concepts.johar champions unique storytelling over the creation of cinematic universes, stressing individual thought as the key to success. News Directory 3 has the exclusive on his upcoming reality series, The Traitors, premiering on June 12th. Will Bollywood heed Johar’s critique, and what fresh narratives are on the horizon? Discover what’s next…
Karan Johar Critiques Bollywood’s “Herd Mentality“
Updated june 11, 2025
Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar believes the Hindi film industry is currently plagued by “herd mentality.” He argues that many are simply trying too replicate the success of others, particularly after blockbusters like Pushpa 2 and Stree 2.
Johar told Bollywood Hungama that filmmakers are rushing to create similar mass masala films and horror-comedies. he emphasized that the original films succeeded as of their unique concepts.
The director of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil advocates for original thought. He said that he prefers to focus on telling stories rather than building cinematic universes.
“We all need to have individual thoughts that are unique to ourselves… My universe is cinema itself. I am not here to build universes, I am here to tell stories. In that story if there’s a universe, then why not?”
Karan Johar, Filmmaker
Johar’s next project, the reality series The Traitors, premieres June 12 on Prime Video. He hosts the show, which features 20 contestants including Ashish Vidyarthi, Uorfi Javed, and Anshula Kapoor. New episodes will be released every Thursday.
What’s next
Johar is expected to continue advocating for originality in Bollywood and will likely focus on projects that showcase unique storytelling.