Sharing the stage with some renowned international artists, Karan Johar opened up about films and culture
| Jan 24, 2018, 09:37 IST
Filmmaker Karan Johar was present at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting on Tuesday this week and whilst sharing the stage with some renowned artists, he opened up about all things films and culture. Sharing the stage with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Alice Bah Kuhnke, Minister for Culture and Democracy of Sweden and Arlie Russell Hochschild and Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Karan spoke openly in the panel discussion on 'culture wars'.
"You cannot enforce culture or imbibe it. There are immense economic and social problems, but sometimes the main papers and politicians don't talk about them because they are focused on a film. It's empowering to the film industry, but it's ridiculous," he said. Talking about the time that he was accused of being 'non-Indian' for casting a Pakistani actor in one of his films, Karan said, "Art should not have boundaries but then culture and patriotism is thrown at the artists."
While Alice Bah Kunke said that in politics, one needs to be very, very tolerant, Karan said, "There is a risk that tolerating intolerance in others can be misconstrued as validation." The annual meeting was also graced by the likes of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"You cannot enforce culture or imbibe it. There are immense economic and social problems, but sometimes the main papers and politicians don't talk about them because they are focused on a film. It's empowering to the film industry, but it's ridiculous," he said. Talking about the time that he was accused of being 'non-Indian' for casting a Pakistani actor in one of his films, Karan said, "Art should not have boundaries but then culture and patriotism is thrown at the artists."
While Alice Bah Kunke said that in politics, one needs to be very, very tolerant, Karan said, "There is a risk that tolerating intolerance in others can be misconstrued as validation." The annual meeting was also graced by the likes of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.