Karan Johar signs Emraan Hashmi for next two films

Mumbai: Filmmaker Karan Johar, who is teaming up with Emraan Hashmi for two of his films, seems to be taken by the actor`s talent and his steady success graph in Bollywood.

The serial kisser would be seen in Karan`s next home production film to be directed by Rensil D`Silva. "Emraan is doing a film for us, Rensil is directing it. And we are also talking to Emraan for another project. I have great amount of respect and regard for him and his talent and the way he strategies his career. He is very talented actor. It is never late, there is always a right time," Karan Johar said. "I think when Emraan and I come together it should be for the right film. I am glad we have found the right script," he said. With the recent string of hits including ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbai’, ‘Murder 2’, ‘The Dirty Picture’ and ‘Jannat 2’, Emraan is being considered as a bankable star. "I always liked him from before. I liked him in Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, The Dirty Picture, I think he really suited the role so well. For this film (untitled) the script suited him... it is different for him and yet it suited him tremendously. I am really very excited about it," he said. When Emraan is there in a film, it is bound to have some intimate scenes. Ask Karan about this and he says, "I don’t think that the script allows. Like in Shanghai he has broken the mould and it is lovely to have an actor who de-constructs his image. It is wonderful he is doing well." Gossip mills were abuzz with rumours that Kareena Kapoor might be starring opposite Emraan but Karan preferred to be tight lipped about it. "The film has a strong ensemble cast, like Emraan, lots of people are there in it.. like Kangana, Randeep Hooda and host of young brilliant actors. We will announce the film with title and cast very soon. It is about individual paths, there is no predominant love story. It is too early to talk about it (story line)," Karan said. About another project with Emraan, Karan said, "We are talking to him on another project. We don’t have any contract with him. We never sign multiple contracts with anyone. It is all about suiting the role." The filmmaker is all looking forward to his upcoming directorial venture Student of the Year which is all set to release on October 19 this year. It stars newcomers Varun Dhawan, son of filmmaker David Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra in lead roles. "We should be hitting the cinema houses on October 19 and we are very excited about it. There are new comers in the film, so there is vast excitement as this is first for us. We are hoping to pass this exam. It is new for me.. it was new for them as well. It was my first time with new comers so I also felt like a newcomer. We all were nervous -- the three actors and me.. but it worked really well," he said. Meanwhile, Karan would be seen judging the fifth season of dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, alongside Madhuri Dixit and Remo D’Souza. "I have been offered loads of shows. I feel it is all about being in right place and time and have faith about it. I would be looking at their concept, presentation, performance, energy and passion they would be bringing in a performance. I have seen the previous seasons. It is a very successful format," he said. When asked to pick a favourite contestant, he says, "I am not going to choose my favourites, and it is not fair to do so at this juncture. Each one of them brings something new, some of them are prolific dancers and some may be not. But the history of Jhalak… shows that a non-dancer lands up winning. The dancers are the one who actually have to pull up their dancing shoes." As far as performing is concerned, Karan feels shy dancing on the show. "I won`t be performing at all…I am here in the capacity of a judge. I won`t be dancing at all. It is not in my place to dance on this platform such as this. I would shy away (to dance in front of Remo and Madhuri), I would rather make them direct something," Karan said. "Who would be silly enough to dance in front Madhuri. Remo is a trained dancer and Madhuri is an exceptional dancer. I am a judge here as a filmmaker and I will use that skill to judge contestants," he said. PTI