Karan Johar Reflects on Regrets Over ‘OK Jaanu’ Remake: “I Didn’t Listen to My Instincts”

In a candid moment on the Jay Shetty podcast, renowned filmmaker Karan Johar looked back at one of his past projects with a sense of regret — the 2017 romantic drama OK Jaanu, a Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam’s acclaimed Tamil film OK Kanmani. The film starred Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, and despite high expectations, failed to resonate with the audience.

Karan Johar Reflects on Regrets Over ‘OK Jaanu’ Remake: “I Didn’t Listen to My Instincts”

Speaking about the role of intuition in his creative journey, Johar admitted that not every decision was made with complete conviction. “My instincts have always guided me,” he said, “but I haven’t always followed them.” One such instance, he revealed, was the decision to back OK Jaanu.

The filmmaker opens up about the value of intuition and a decision he now questions

“At that time,” Johar explained, “Aditya and Shraddha had just delivered a hit with Aashiqui 2. They had already agreed to do the film. The project came to me nearly ready — great source material, a successful Tamil original, a talented director like Shaad Ali, and two young stars. Everything seemed right on paper.”

But despite the ideal circumstances, Johar shared that a quiet doubt lingered. “In my heart, I felt — should this film be remade? It was very much a film of its moment. Could that moment really be recaptured in a new language, for a different audience?”

The film, which sought to explore modern relationships and live-in dynamics, failed to recreate the magic of the original and received mixed reviews upon release.

Karan’s reflection underscores the often unpredictable nature of filmmaking, where even experienced creators face moments of uncertainty. His admission is also a reminder of the creative tension between intuition and industry logic — a theme many filmmakers silently grapple with.