'Bollywood more dependent on stars than content of films'

Bollywood is more interested in box office performance rather than the content of films, filmmaker Karan Johar said, adding that the industry should work on the aspect of writing.

“There is always a debate on the content being great down in south India, and that is because they are more disciplined and single-minded. I feel we here (in Bollywood) chase box office numbers, depend on movie stars than content. I think Hindi cinema should work on writing...We have inadequate writers, we need to empower them,”
Johar said.

Johar was speaking to reporters at the trailer launch of noted director S S Rajamouli’s magnum opus Bahubali –The Beginning which he is presenting in Hindi.

“Success of films like Piku, Tanu Weds Manu Returns show that good films work. I don’t produce films thinking they are commercial, parallel...I produce films as an audience. The film has to make me happy, sad, laugh, cry,” Johar said.

The filmmaker said he is a huge fan of Rajamouli’s work and happy to attach
his name to the noted south director’s film.

“I have learnt from him that I should stop judging reality shows and focus on making films,” Johar said in a lighter vein.

“We don’t have a filmmaker like him (Rajamouli) here (in Bollywood) who can make films on such a huge canvas...putting three-four years of his life into a project,” he said.
Johar said he loves the emotional drama that Rajamouli integrates with updated technology in his films.

“I have loved his films Magadheera, Eega. He puts emotions rightly in his films, adds updated technology and makes films on scale. It reminds me of Mughal-e-Azam,” he added.

Staring Rana Dagubatti, Prantas, Anushka Shetty and Tamaannah Bhatia, Bahubali is slated for release on July 10.