Last Updated:March 20, 2025, 07:55 IST

Karan Johar mentioned how most directors in Bollywood used to be Punjabi.

Karan Johar recently attended the trailer launch of Dharma’s first Punjabi film, Akaal, and recalled how when he was younger, most producers and directors in Bollywood were Punjabi. Karan’s father, Yash Johar, was also Punjabi and spoke to his crew in Punjabi. Karan mentioned how even today, stars like Akshay Kumar switch to Punjabi during negotiations.

Karan said, “All the producers and directors came from Punjab. Whether it was Manmohan Desai’s set or Yash Chopra’s set or J Om Prakash’s set, everyone used to speak in Punjabi. The hero was Punjabi. The heroine was a South Indian. It was almost like a template.” “My father used to speak to the distributors in Punjabi in the morning. I knew Punjabi very well, but my problem would be when my mother woke up and started speaking in Sindhi. That’s where I got confused. I completely understand Punjabi,” added Karan.

Karan mentioned how when Akshay Kumar is negotiating with Apoorva Mehta and doesn’t want him to understand what he is saying, he switches to Punjabi and addresses Karan directly. “Even today, when Apoorva Mehta is the main negotiator and Akshay Kumar doesn’t want Apoorva to know what he wants to say, he talks to me in Punjabi (laughs),” he said.

Meanwhile, Karan Johar is about to celebrate Dharma’s first Punjabi film. Gippy Grewal’s Akaal will be released in cinemas on April 10 in Hindi and Punjabi. The trailer launch was held on Tuesday, March 18. “Like they say in Jerry Maguire, ‘You had me at Hello.’ I’d say they had me at Gippy Grewal,” said Karan. The filmmaker also thanked Gippy Grewal for collaborating with Dharma Productions.