Karan Johar has recently expressed his regret about producing the 2017 film 'Ok Jaanu,' starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor. In a candid reflection, Johar admitted that he knew the film "wasn't the right move" even while it was being made.
'Ok Jaanu' is a remake of Mani Ratnam's Tamil hit 'OK Kanmani'. The film revolves around Adi (Aditya Roy Kapur) and Tara (Shraddha Kapoor), two young, ambitious individuals who meet in Mumbai and enter into a live-in relationship. Both are career-oriented and initially averse to the idea of marriage, setting their sights on opportunities abroad. Adi aspires to design video games in the United States, while Tara dreams of pursuing architecture in Paris. The film explores their relationship dynamics and how their ambitions affect their choices. Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Leela Samson play an elderly couple whose relationship mirrors and influences the younger couple's journey.
Despite the success of 'Aashiqui 2,' which also starred Kapur and Kapoor, 'Ok Jaanu' failed to resonate with audiences and underperformed at the box office. The film grossed ₹39.3 crore against a budget of ₹27 crore and received largely negative reviews.
Several critics noted that 'Ok Jaanu' lacked the depth and emotional resonance of the original Tamil film. Some reviews pointed out that the film glossed over the complexities of live-in relationships, instead focusing on superficial aspects. Others felt that the film failed to offer anything new and relied too heavily on Bollywood clichés. While the chemistry between Kapur and Kapoor was appreciated, many felt that the script gave them little to work with. Naseeruddin Shah and Leela Samson's performances were generally praised, but critics lamented that their storyline was not given enough screen time.
Karan Johar's admission of regret highlights the challenges of remaking successful films and the importance of trusting one's creative instincts. He has often spoken about trusting his gut feeling when it comes to recognizing talent and greenlighting projects. He cited filmmakers like Ayan Mukerji, Shakun Batra, and Shashank Khaitan, on whom he took a chance early in their careers. Johar's willingness to acknowledge his missteps reflects his evolution as a filmmaker and his commitment to learning from his experiences.
'Ok Jaanu' collected ₹13.80 crore in its first three days. The film's opening weekend collections were around ₹14 crore. Domestically, the movie grossed $355,922, while internationally it earned $5,089,359, with a worldwide gross of $5,445,281.
