People want to see new faces: Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar says today audience does not want to see actors repeated for similar roles in different films and instead it has become acceptive of new faces.

"Today, there is a need for fresh and new talent. One doesn't want a same actor playing the role of a father or mother every time. It is all about finding new and fresh talented people as people praise also and there is acceptance as well," Johar told reporters at an event.

The 44-year-old "My Name Is Khan" director said he gives a lot of importance to casting in his films. "As a producer, I never get involved with casting as it the job of a director. When I am a director, casting is an integral part of the film. Today there are variety of characters in a film that have so many layers and shades."

According to Johar, superstar Aamir Khan-led blockbuster "Lagaan" is the perfect example of a great



casting. The filmmaker said the period film brought in the trend of unusual casting in mainstream commercial movies.

"I think 'Lagaan' opened the door for unusual casting in mainstream cinema. As there was not a single film till 2001 that had so many interesting new faces and they all left a mark.

"It opened doors for casting as earlier it was industry casting, they (actors in 'Lagaan') were all real people. I think the large part of the success of 'Lagaan' was the casting of the cricket team."

The filmmaker spoke at the launch of TalentNext, a talent-recruiter online platform, in "Lagaan" director Ashutosh Gowarikar's presence.

"Lagaan" revolved around a small village whose inhabitants, burdened by high taxes, find themselves in an extraordinary situation as an arrogant officer challenges them to a game of cricket as a wager to avoid the taxes.