Thaindian News

May 15, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Mrs. Shah Rukh Khan and Mrs. Hrithik Roshan, Gauri and Sussanne, two friends, have traveled to New York in advance to spend some of their husbands’ money shopping before the grand premiere of Kites at Times Square on May 16. And giving them company is Karan Johar.

Trust the ever-affable Karan Johar to be the “awed’ one out. Not having learnt his lesson from the crazy Twitter-related over-generous praise for Gurinder Chadha’s It’s A Wonderful Afterlife, Karan is now going all out for the Roshans and their prestigious film, Kites.

And this time it’s not just about placing complimentary comments on social websites. Karan is currently in New York, ostensibly for a longish holiday which would’ve ideally ended this week.

Karan has decided to stay back in New York to attend the prestigious premiere of Kites on May 16, just for the Roshans. In fact, he was this week joined by Gauri Khan, who will be representing her star-husband Shah Rukh at the premiere.

Shah Rukh, who can’t attend the event as he’s shooting for Ra.One, made sure that his wife represented them both at this very important occasion in the Roshans’ life.

Speaking from New York, Karan confirms, “Gauri and Sussanne Roshan are here. We’re having the time of our lives. I am not thinking about work at all. Just enjoying myself.”

About his praise for Gurinder Chadha’s severely criticized film Karan defends, “Why not? I did it for a friend and a colleague. I’d do it again if I have to. I had earlier decided I’d no more praise my colleagues’ works because they don’t praise me for any of my films. But I don’t think I can be that way. I love going all-out for my friends. I’m dying to see Badmaash Company. And if I like it I will praise it to the skies because Yash Uncle (Chopra) and Adi are family.”

Regarding the unconditional support to Kites, Karan says, “It’s a big film for the Roshans, who are very close to me, and Shah Rukh. The success of Kites is also very important to the film industry. I have a release I Hate Luv Stories coming up in July. And if Kites works it’d mean favourable things for my films.”

Of course, Karan knows there would be no support from his colleagues when his film is released. “But that’s okay. New York is an important venue for Bollywood. My Name Is Khan’s shortened version was released here last week. Now it’s a shortened international version of Kites. So we are working towards the same goal of taking Bollywood to the West.”

Incidentally, Karan had gone to New York with the express purpose of writing his next screenplay. But he has drawn a blank. “At the moment I’m all geared up for the Kites premiere. I can’t wait to see it.”

– Subhash K. Jha / Sampurn Wire