Karan Johar He has weighed in on Bollywood’s growing obsession with hyper-masculine storytelling, describing it as an industry now dominated by the energy and testosterone-driven narratives of “big alphas”.“If one movie works, there will be 10 more”In a recent interview with The Week, the filmmaker spoke candidly about the industry’s tendency to follow trends, highlighting what he called a “herd mentality.”
“If one movie works in a certain area, there will be 10 more. So you’re going to see 10 more high-octane testosterone movies where men are walking around for no reason and they’re not going anywhere in particular, but they’re going to walk around like that. Everyone will have a beard and everyone will smoke. Apparently, that’s what women like to see, or at least that’s what men think,” he said.Karan added that while theatrical releases today are dominated by high-energy, male-centric narratives, OTT platforms continue to offer more story layers and nuances.“How would you imagine such a man?”The filmmaker also recalled the backlash he faced for presenting a different kind of masculinity in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Speaking about criticism of a scene featuring a male character performing classical dance, he said: “I had a core audience who asked, ‘How can you portray a man like that?’ And I say, if I can focus my attention on a certain audience and have no conviction, why am I here? I am a born feminist and I will always tell a feminist story.“The current wave of hyper-masculinity in Hindi cinema is often associated with success Sandeep Reddy Vangamovies like Kabir SinghStarring Shahid Kapoor and Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoorand it was a massive hit after that Aditya DharThe Dhurandhar franchise, starring Ranveer Singh, leans towards a similar aesthetic: male leads, rugged looks, smoking habits and heightened violence. Interestingly, Karan has praised these films in his reviews for their performances.What’s next for Karan JoharOn the work front, Karan is gearing up for the release of his next production Chaand Mera Dil. Directed by Vivek Soni and bankrolled by Dharma Productions, the romantic drama features Ananya Panday and Lakshay in lead roles. The film will hit theaters on May 22, after being pushed back from its December 2025 release date.He also has another project in the works, Nagzilla, directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and starring Kartik Aaryan. Although the film is expected to release later this year, the final date has not yet been announced.Also, fans can look forward to the return of the popular talk show Koffee With Karan as its ninth season premieres this Diwali.
