Karan Johar REVEALS why Adar Poonawalla acquired 50% of Dharma Productions

Karan Johar, who is considered to be one of the most prolific filmmakers in Bollywood, recently made national headlines when he decided to sell off the 50 per cent stake in Dharma Productions to Serum Institute’s CEO Adar Poonawalla. Reports stated that Adar Poonawalla had invested Rs 1000 crores in Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment.

Just as when everyone was eager and curious to know the reason behind the sell-out, it seems that Karan Johar has given the answer to the same during a discussion with Adar Poonawalla at the recently held the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit.

On his part, Karan Johar said, “I feel this is a great marriage of two minds. It was an easy decision for us, and we truly believe this is the best partnership for the growth we envision. I needed the partnership for that… someone who could help me create a vision and contribute strongly to growth with their business insight”.

As for Adar Poonawalla, he said that he was as shocked as everyone else was for making this move and that it was not such a bad business opportunity with the verticals like music distribution and content creation… the areas that will thrive in the next five to seven years.

He said, “How do you quantify stories that change people’s biases or make iconic films? That’s something I saw with Dharma."

At that, Karan Johar said that he was more accountable now than he had ever been, something that his father (the late Yash Johar) always tried to make him understand. He added that, this was also something that Apoorva (while he was referring to Apoorva Mehta, who happens to be the CEO of Dharma Productions) had been trying for 25 years.

He added, “From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I’ve dedicated my career to expanding that vision”.

He also added, “Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend, and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we’re poised to elevate Dharma’s legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies."

He added that it was about honouring the roots while embracing the future of global entertainment and that Dharma’s journey has been remarkable, and the said collaboration has now opened up a world of possibilities for creating content that would resonate across borders and generations.

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