Karan Johar Recalls His Father Sold ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ European Rights for 5000 Dollars

Karan Johar at Cannes 2025:

Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar got emotional as he revisited fond memories during a session at the Bharat Pavilion at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Sharing the stage with director Neeraj Ghaywan, Johar reflected on his early experiences at Cannes and the vision of his late father, producer Yash Johar. The session, held at the Bharat Pavilion, was organised by NFDC and FICCI under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

Karan shared a moving story from 2002, when he had accompanied his father to the festival. "I have a lot of emotional memories of Cannes. I remember it was 2002 when I came here with my father. He struck a deal here and we sold the European rights of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham for five thousand dollars,” said Johar. “I thought it was very less and I asked my father about it. He told me, ‘Look, we have to make a start somewhere.’ He wasn’t there to see the cultural movement we created with Bollywood films."

He also looked back on the same year’s screening of Devdas. "Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan were on the red carpet. Aishwarya is literally like the queen of Cannes. Every time we are here, Ash creates a huge amount of media energy and excitement," Johar recalled.

He further reminisced about his 2013 return to the French Riviera with Bombay Talkies, alongside Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap. "That year, I met Guneet Monga and watched ‘The Lunchbox’. It was doing so well, and I decided to present the film to Indian audiences," he said.

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Reflecting on his journey with the festival, Karan added, "I have so many memories attached. I haven’t been here for the last 12 years. Coming back to the Bharat Pavilion feels like going back 21 years. My father was here so many times—it feels like home."

Karan Johar and Neeraj Ghaywan are attending Cannes for the screening of their film Homebound, showcased under the Un Certain Regard category.

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