Karan Johar says SS Rajamouli’s films rely on conviction, not logic; cites Gadar’s handpump scene as an example proving power of faith

Karan Johar is undeniably one of the most influential figures in Bollywood and a major force in Indian cinema, having directed and produced some of the industry’s biggest films. Best known for his romantic comedies and family dramas, he recently stated that cinema can transcend logic if filmmakers have unwavering conviction in their stories, characters and the world they create. To illustrate his point, he referenced the movies of directors SS Rajamouli, Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Anil Sharma.

Using Rajamouli as an example, Johar explained that while his films may not always adhere to conventional logic, the director’s sheer confidence in his storytelling compels audiences to believe in what unfolds on screen. During a conversation with Komal Nahta, K Jo was asked, “When logic takes a backseat, what takes the front?” and without thinking twice, he replied, “Conviction”. He elaborated, “It is very important. If you look at the best filmmakers and try to understand their journey, their greatest or most successful films are a result of conviction. If there’s conviction, logic won’t matter.”

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“Take Rajamouli sir’s movies, for instance. Where can you spot logic? You can only see conviction in his films. When that conviction comes to the forefront, even the audience will believe you. This holds true for all major blockbusters, including Animal, RRR and Gadar. They were all driven by conviction. If a person is shown beating up 1,000 people with just a handpump, it’s because of conviction. Anil Sharma believes Sunny Deol can do that, and as a result, the audience believes it too. And in Gadar 2, the moment he touches someone, they run away. That’s pure faith,” he added.

Emphasising that this quality to have unwavering belief must be ingrained in every filmmaker’s DNA, Karan Johar remarked that if they fully embraced it, all their films would turn into blockbusters. “More often than not, you end up doubting yourself, second-guessing the audience and thinking too much about logic. That won’t help you in any way,” he added.