UTV to distribute Karan Johar's next two, not Yash Raj FIlms

Doesn't sell distribution rights of upcoming films to Yash Raj, but to UTV

The unexpected has happened. Yash Raj Films are no longer the sole distributors of Karan Johar's productions projects.

In a shocking development, Karan has sold the rights of his next two films Wake Up Sid and Rensil D'Silva's untitled film to UTV for a whopping Rs 60 crore.

Meanwhile, the distribution rights for the Karan Johar-directed My Name Is Khan are still up for grabs.

Read on for a exclusive chat with KJo...

Karan Johar and Ronnie Screwvala together?
Our priorities are similar. First cinema, then the business of cinema. We both understand that it's finally about business. UTV has made niche cinema into a mainstream event. Their sense of publicity and marketing is amazing.

Why now?
Above any professional equation, Ronnie and I were first friends.u00a0 And a business alliance was only a matter of time. Now we felt we could create a synergy together. I'm very happy with the collaboration because I believe Ronnieu00a0 understands cinema and has a head for the business side. So I'm very happy to tie up.

It's an unexpected alliance...
Dharma Productions always worked more as a family concern than a business undertaking. We've gone more by emotion than practicality. Maybe we need to get more business-like in our dealings. I feel a certain warmth towards Ronnie which compounded with his business sense will help us grow.

But you've never tied up withu00a0 any business house before except Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan.
Yes, that's true. And Yash Uncleu00a0 and Shah Rukh are family. Very frankly, I don't understand finances beyond a point. My best friend and Dharma CEO, Apoorvau00a0 Mehta, takes care ofu00a0 that. I'm not good with money. Signing a cheque takes me a minute because I still tend to sign on the wrong line. I remember once I returned from an awardsu00a0 show and I had to sign a host of cheques. By mistake, I signedu00a0 them, 'With Lots Of Love, Karanu00a0 Johar'. My father looked at the cheques, smiled, and said, "They don't want your love. They wantu00a0 your money."

Do you see corporate giantsu00a0 coming together as a solution to theu00a0 current recession?
I don't think collaborations are a solution to recession. Under-standing why it happenedu00a0 in the first place is the solution. Actors, distributors and techniciansu2026 we all need to understandu00a0 why the recession happened. Suddenly, every- one was talking crores as if they were thousands. Nowu00a0 we're again thinking rationally and are ready to resume the process of taking cinema ahead. We had to stop being delusional about the entertainment industry. Finally, it's about the art of cinema again. We needed to rectify the imbalance between creativity and finances.u00a0 Finally again, it's aboutu00a0 creativity first, commerce next. And that's whereu00a0 UTV and Dharma come in. We'd like to make filmsu00a0 that make cinema proud.

Would you agreeu00a0 tou00a0 direct au00a0 film for UTV?
I never say never to anything. I've told Yash Uncle it's my dream tou00a0 direct one Yash Raj Film.u00a0 People go to NYU and Whistling Woods to learn filmmaking. I went to the Yash Raj school. At one point, I neveru00a0 thought I'd produce films. I'm doing that now. Then I thought I can only do one thing at a time. So yes, I mightu00a0 direct a film for them.