Karan Johar shares how Akshay Kumar shifts to Punjabi mid-meetings to negotiate privately, keeping even Dharma Productions’ CEO out of the loop.
March 20, 2025: Filmmaker Karan Johar recently revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar’s negotiation tactics. During the trailer launch of Akaal, Dharma Productions’ first Punjabi film, Karan shared that Akshay often switches to Punjabi during discussions when he wants to keep things between the two of them—especially from Apoorva Mehta, the CEO of Dharma Productions.
“Even today, when Apoorva is the main negotiator, and Akshay doesn’t want him to understand something, he talks to me in Punjabi,” Karan said with a laugh.
Karan Johar’s Punjabi Connection
Johar, who has deep-rooted Punjabi heritage, spoke about how the Hindi film industry was once dominated by Punjabis. He recalled that veteran filmmakers like Yash Chopra, Manmohan Desai, and J Om Prakash would converse in Punjabi on set, while actors would often be of Punjabi or South Indian origin.
The filmmaker also reflected on his father Yash Johar’s legacy and expressed pride in launching Dharma Productions’ first Punjabi film, Akaal, directed by Gippy Grewal. He credited his father’s Lahore roots for his strong connection to Punjabi culture and language.
Akshay Kumar’s Close Association with Dharma
Akshay Kumar has worked with Dharma Productions in successful films like Kesari and Good Newwz, and his Punjabi background often comes into play during negotiations. The superstar, who is fluent in the language, strategically uses it during discussions to communicate privately with Karan.
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As Johar humorously put it, “Like they say in Jerry Maguire, ‘You had me at Hello.’ I’d say they had me at Gippy Grewal.”
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Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Punjabi Cinema, Bollywood, Dharma Productions, Akaal Movie, Gippy Grewal, Bollywood Negotiations, Punjabi Language, Akshay Kumar Movies, Kesari, Good Newwz, Bollywood News