Once bitten, twice shy
After YRF, KJo may be the next filmmaker to sign three-film contracts with his protégés. But KJo isn’t signing them with actors, rather with the directors he has mentored. The reason: His past experiences with filmmakers Soham Shah and Nikhil Advani, who decided to move on from Dharma Productions after making Kaal and Kal Ho Na Ho respectively. A hurt KJo has now ensured that the situation does not arise again by signing ironclad contracts for three films with newer collaborators like Karan Malhotra (Agneepath) and Shakun Batra (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu).
“KJo is the only independent filmmaker, other than big guns like the Chopras, who has already launched the careers of a dozen-odd directors. However, he can’t afford to have newcomers get all their ‘on the job training’ at Dharma and then branch out for greener pastures soon after. The three-film contract is to safeguard against that,” says a close associate of the director.
Shakun and Karan Malhotra confirm that they are contractually bound to make three films each with KJo, but aren’t willing to reveal any other details. And KJo on his part restricts himself to, “I am happy to work with a young brigade of talented filmmakers.”
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