Karan Johar, one of Bollywood’s most influential filmmakers, recently shared his thoughts on what makes a movie truly successful. Known for his grand romantic dramas and family sagas, Johar emphasized that unwavering conviction in a story and its characters is far more important than strict logic. He pointed out that audiences willingly embrace even the most improbable situations when filmmakers present them with absolute confidence.
During an interview, when asked, “When logic takes a backseat, what takes the front?” Johar instantly replied, “Conviction.” He explained that the biggest and most successful films are not bound by realism but by the strength of the director’s belief in the narrative. “If there’s conviction, logic won’t matter,” he stated.
Citing examples of SS Rajamouli’s RRR and Anil Sharma’s Gadar 2, Johar highlighted how these films defied conventional storytelling norms yet captivated millions. “Look at Rajamouli sir’s movies—where is the logic? What you see is pure conviction. When that comes through, the audience believes it too,” he said.
Further elaborating, Johar mentioned that this principle applies to all major blockbusters, including Animal, RRR, and Gadar 2. He humorously pointed out that Gadar 2 features Sunny Deol taking on an army with just a handpump, yet the scene works because of Anil Sharma’s sheer faith in the character’s strength. “Anil Sharma believes Sunny Deol can do that, and the audience believes it too. In Gadar 2, the moment he touches someone, they go flying—that’s conviction,” he added.
Johar stressed that filmmakers should stay true to their vision without self-doubt or excessive concern about audience expectations. “Second-guessing yourself or overthinking logic won’t help. It’s all about believing in your story,” he concluded.
With this perspective, Karan Johar reaffirmed that cinema is not just about realism—it’s about making the audience believe in the impossible through sheer storytelling conviction.
