Karan Johar recently shared his perspective on storytelling, asserting that conviction is far more crucial than logic in filmmaking. The celebrated director-producer believes that a filmmaker’s unwavering belief in their vision can make audiences accept even the most improbable scenarios. He referenced the works of directors SS Rajamouli, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and Anil Sharma to support his argument.
In an interview with Komal Nahta, he stated that conviction takes precedence in movies when logic fails to meet expectations. He believes that the greatest filmmakers and their blockbuster works are truly driven by conviction, and for them, logic does not matter.
Johar cited Rajamouli as a prime example, highlighting how his films, though not always bound by realism, captivate audiences through sheer storytelling confidence. “Take Rajamouli sir’s movies, for instance. Where can you spot logic?” Karan remarked, justifying his statement. He added that Rajamouli’s films are built purely on conviction, and that conviction makes the audience believe whatever he creates. “This holds true for all major blockbusters, including Animal, RRR, and Gadar,” he noted.
Illustrating his point further, he referred to Gadar’s larger-than-life action sequences. Karan explained that a person single-handedly defeating 1,000 people with a handpump is not about logic but about director Anil Sharma’s confidence that Sunny Deol could do it. He noted that Sharma made Sunny’s character so convincing that audiences believed in his abilities.
Karan emphasised that conviction is essential for filmmakers, as self-doubt, overthinking audience expectations, and focusing too much on logic can hinder success. He asserted that those who fully commit to their vision are the ones who create blockbuster films.
