The ninth episode of the current season of Koffee with Karan was graced by Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgan, two hit machines of the Hindi film industry. The last episode was rather a punching bag session where Arjun Kapoor and Karan Johar had a go at Aditya Roy Kapur, who seemed to know nothing about the Hindi film industry he predominantly works with. Unlike those young guys, the seasoned actor and director had a lot to share about the fair share of time they had spent in the industry.
Recap: What Happens In The Episode?
Karan Johar was excited to introduce the husband of his best friend, Ajay Devgan, who happens to be one of the best actors in the country and has sustained his stardom since the 1990s. Along with him was his best friend Rohit Shetty, who began his career as an assistant director at the age of 17 with films starring Ajay Devgan, and their friendship has remained steadfast and strong ever since. Karan Johar was elated to have them on the show because this was a duo not many had interviewed on television. It was interesting to hear Ajay Devgan and Rohit Shetty speak in depth about their friendship and how they have remained each other’s rock-solid support since their young days. Karan Johar was in awe of this almost thirty-year-old friendship, and he was keen to know more about their rapport on and off set. Their journey in the industry began with the film Zameen, which was released twenty years ago. Karan also began the conversation by talking about Lamhe, which was released on the same day as Phool aur Kante. It was the latter film that took precedence and became a blockbuster hit, while Lamhe right now is considered a movie way ahead of its time.
There was an in-depth conversation about the struggles Ajay and Rohit’s fathers went through to establish themselves as two of the most prolific action directors in the Hindi film industry. Both father figures have a similar story of having run away from their hometown in their early teens to Bombay in the hope of making a name for themselves. Their struggle in the city eventually made them two of the most reputed people in the action department of the film industry. Ajay’s father lived long enough to see his son become a star. Meanwhile, Rohit lost his father at a young age and could not thank his mother enough for keeping the family financially afloat by taking up odd jobs in industry. Rohit himself had to join the film industry to contribute financially to the family. Karan Johar seemed proud of everything that Rohit and Ajay have been through, and he was glad both men spoke about the suffering and struggles they have witnessed firsthand. Karan Johar is glad two grown men, including him, are speaking about a part of their work that is not as glamorous as everyone assumes it to be.
Ajay and Rohit could not stress the fact that, as actors and directors, there is a lot that the audience does not see when the film is released on the big screen. Entertainment and social media do not cover this aspect of their lives, and they feel it is unfair for the audience to judge them. Karan Johar and Ajay Devgan jumped on the bandwagon and kept complaining about “nepotism,” just because using that word makes their argument relevant. They were stressing again about the struggle that no one wanted to hear about. Ajay Devgan also stresses that people want to see the pictures of the children of every celebrity yet they still have an issue with directors casting them. Karan Johar could not stop having the last laugh at this subject because this was one of the few times, in detail, he discussed his father’s struggle as a not-so-successful producer.
The highlight of the show must be Rohit’s relaxed nature and how he never takes failure to heart. Rohit claims Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan’s relaxed demeanor after the release of their film rubbed off on him. Ajay also claims to have stopped taking life seriously because it is just their job, and not every story will be a successful one. Rohit also spoke about how Golmaal came to fruition because of Neeraj Vora. Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal happens to be one of the most famous comedy franchises in the Hindi film industry.
Both veterans of the Hindi film industry could not wrap their heads around how insecure the current lot of actors are and how they wind up seeking validation from strangers on social media. There was also a hilarious discussion on paid PR and how it sells every actor and actress as a positive person, which comes as a shock to them. Rohit and Ajay are very candid about the current trends of the industry, and they steer away from the noise of it. Rohit is happy to have kept his family away from the limelight. He finally reveals that his son wants to make a foray into the film industry. Ajay Devgan stated that his daughter has no plans to enter the industry, but he is skeptical of that as well.
Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgan were also asked about the flops they have faced, and both were calm about having a habit of moving on to the next project. Rohit’s next film brings together a multitude of actors, for the first time in many years. Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor are headlining the film, and the audience cannot wait for the major crossover Rohit Shetty has in store for us. Ajay could not stop talking about the camaraderie shared between yesteryear actors and how a lot of that has changed currently. Karan is hoping Rohit’s upcoming ‘Multiverse of Madness’ film could be a change. None of them could stop gushing about Gadar 2’s success, and they were happy to admit everyone in the industry was happy for the Deol family and the kind of year they have had. The show ended with a Bollywood quiz. Both have been integral parts of the industry for a long time and have gained immense knowledge about it. Rohit won the Bollywood quiz in the meantime. The rapid fire was a close match, which Ajay Devgan won.
Review: Honesty Is The Best Policy In This Episode!!
This was probably the first time in this season of the show that Karan Johar was excited to have fellow directors. The three directors only discuss the craft of filmmaking and do not gossip on frivolous subjects, such as the scandalous lives of the stars. Ajay Devgan and Karan Johar have nothing to hide about their lives; meanwhile, Rohit likes to keep his family away from the glam and the glitz.
Ajay Devgan and Rohit Shetty’s unfiltered conversation must be the biggest takeaway of the show. None of them did not sugarcoat any conversation. Ajay Devgan and Rohit Shetty were brutally honest about their lives and struggles as actors and technicians, and they saw poverty while growing up. The subject of nepotism was back again, and this time the host and the guest got everything wrong about the concept, what it stands for, and why people bring up the subject. Nepotism is not about disregarding the struggle they or their family have witnessed. The subject of nepotism is raised because actors need to acknowledge that their children have greater access to the industry than any outsider would. If this aspect is accepted, a lot of the noise around this subject would die down.
Both have delivered multiple hits back-to-back, and at this stage, they have nothing to lose. This could be the reason behind their frankness in their conversation. Ajay Devgan has nothing to hide because he has been a star since the 1990s and evolved to be one of the best actors in the country. Rohit Shetty’s every film has been commercially successful, even though he was never a favorite of the critics. Their struggle stories are to be acknowledged, which the audiences refuse to do by not comprehending the painstaking work done by them on the road to success. Karan Johar was on their side as well, and he could not stop himself from speaking about the pain his father went through to mount many films under the Yash Johar banner.
It seems the host could resonate because these are the harsh truths of the industry no one talks about. The hard times are the worst, and it was with utmost candor that the guests discussed people turning their backs on them in times of crisis. The subject of paid PR and the paparazzi could not have been fair because they seemed to be leading a normal and content life without anybody following them. It is counterproductive to talk about paid PR when Koffee with Karan is essentially a platform where actors come to promote their films.
The matter-of-fact conversation made this episode interesting from the start until the end. Ajay Devgan and Rohit Shetty have been friends for many years, and their friendship was on full display as they backed each other up just like they have been doing for many years. This episode was all about all three men being proud of the success that followed them after years of struggle they faced as young boys. They are glad to have faced tough times, managed to get out of them, and eventually became successful. A passionate episode indeed, which brought out the best of all three.
