Karan Johar is Britain toursim board's goodwill ambassador

He breathes London and is often pointed fingers at for making films for the Indian diaspora. But film-maker Karan Johar has the last laugh after all, for he’s now a goodwill ambassador of the Britain tourism board, which plans on banking on his special bond with the nation to encourage more tourists.

“I’ve begun my filmy journey in London in 1994 with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. I then made Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, a film closest to my heart there. I’m so comfortable with every part of London, I can shop in London easier when compared to doing so on the streets of Mumbai,” confesses Johar. Little wonder that this eloquent director has been chosen as the Indian face for this £100 million initiative.

He adds, “Film is an important medium to bridge connections between different regions. We are having award ceremonies today in different corners of the world, we’re shopping and filming in these different places too. It helps in bringing people together.”

Ask him what he’d do as his first initiative and he quips, “I’ll probably write a script to get the Kohinoor back, for I haven’t been able to shoot at the Tower of London yet.” But, Karan quickly puts his serious face back on and says, “I’m a walking, talking catalogue of London, so all one needs to do is locate me.”

He does divulge that his next production will be set in London. “The script of the first leg of this three-part franchise is currently being written about as we’re speaking. Rensil D’Silva, who directed Kurbaan for me, is writing it. The script demands that I set my film in London. It is too early to divulge more details on it.”

But, sources in Mumbai reveal that this film will mostly have Salman Khan in the lead and will be based on something similar to a series like Ocean’s Eleven. “We’re yet to announce the cast officially,” is all Johar chooses to say when asked about Khan.

However, Johar does go on to talk about the younger talent that he’s been working with. “When we thought of expanding the production house and encouraging new talent, I obviously thought of the people who’ve assisted me. Be it Ayaan (Mukherjee), Tarun (Mansukhani), Punit (Malhotra) or Rensil, each of them have brought in so much to the production house. Their films find an immediate connect to the youth,” says an almost proud and beaming Johar.