Karan Johar says he conducted test screening of Rocky Aur Rani with 500 people, made changes in the film: ‘Added back few key moments of romance…’

The filmmaker added, “We went through a lot of those beats because it is a tough film with many interpersonal relationships, many characters, their individual tracks and then their paybacks. It was tough. But Nitin held my hand so strongly. I had a great team of assistant directors.”

Karan shared that the first cut of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was around 3 hours and 12 minutes. It was after the test screening that he edited the film and finally brought it to 2 hours and 48 minutes. “We have gone through a process. We have added things back which we removed earlier. They (those who attended the test screening) felt the romance was rushed in the first part. So, we slowed that down by adding some key moments that we had cut off. There was a lot of feedback that we heard.”

Explaining why he was so adamant about conducting test screenings for the film. KJo shared, “I realised we live in a time where we are dealing with a varied audience and we are dealing with a lot of competition as well. We have content coming from regional cinema, Hollywood cinema, OTT content and your own movies, and people’s regular disinterest in going to a cinema hall in post-pandemic times. When there are so many of these missiles working against you, you have to be sure. I always say and firmly believe please research your film.”

Karan is currently basking in the love coming his way and is “joyously replying to everyone” who is sending him a message after watching Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.