Have no right to compete with Salman's magnitude: Karan Johar
Mumbai, May 19: Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar said the makers of "Lust Stories" have no right to compete with the magnitude of Salman Khan as his forthcoming movie "Race 3" which is also releasing on June 15.
Karan Johar, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film "Lust Stories", said this on Friday while interacting with the media along with Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Kapoor, Zoya Akthar, Jaideep Ahalwat, Dibakar Banerjee, producer Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua at the trailer launch of the movie.
When asked whether "Lust Stories" has the power and lust to overpower Salman Khan's "Race 3" on June 15, Karan said: "Of course not. Salman Khan is on a different platform. He is the big master of mainstream cinema."
"'Race 3' is going to be humongous film. It's a franchise film and its totally different film into totally different syntax. We are not competing with him."
"We don't have that ability to fight with Salman or 'Race 3'. We are actually very happy four filmmakers who have made a tiny little film for which we are grateful to Netflix. We don't have right to compete with the magnitude of Salman. I probably will go to watch 'Race 3' instead of 'Lust Stories' on June 15."
When asked whether Netflix gave him the platform to tell a story the way he wants, Karan said: "I definitely believe that the film is pushing some boundaries but I would be happy to do the same even in films."
"Just because this film is called 'Lust Stories', it doesn't mean that you can show overt amount of sex scenes and it has got something that is out there and in your face. All stories in this film are very emotional and deep stories."
Throwing some light on the concept of the film, he said: "We all know film is called 'Lust Stories' so the film is about love and lust. I think it's exciting that we all decided on this theme together and thought that all directors would have an individual interpretation of love and lust so invariably when you have given choice between love and lust, more sensible people will choose lust only because it's infinitely more exciting than love is."
Karan said just like men, even women have the right to seek pleasure.
My film is about seeking pleasure. It's also about the fact that it's not just the man's right to seek pleasure, it's also a woman's right."
Karan's short film "Ice-Cream" features Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani and Neha Dhupia in lead roles.
"Lust Stories" include four short stories; each of them has been directed by Karan Johar, Zoya Akthar, Dibakar Banerjee and Anurag Kashyap.
The film "Lust Stories" will release on June 15 on Netflix.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
