What is Karan Johar's connection to SS Rajamouli?

Karan Johar has long admired the filmmaking skills of SS Rajamouli, describing his fascination as an "obsession" that predates their professional partnership on the Baahubali franchise.

How did Karan Johar and SS Rajamouli's collaboration on Baahubali come about?

Johar revealed that he was the one who approached Rajamouli for the Baahubali films, not the other way around, as he had been a fan of Rajamouli's work for years.

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Karan Johar's Lifelong Obsession with Filmmaker SS Rajamouli Revealed

Q: What did Karan Johar think of SS Rajamouli's film Makkhi?

Johar expressed disappointment that Rajamouli's 2012 film Makkhi did not perform well with Hindi-speaking audiences, calling it "one of the best films ever made."

5 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Karan Johar has long admired SS Rajamouli's filmmaking skills
Johar approached Rajamouli for the Baahubali franchise, not the other way around
Johar was disappointed that Rajamouli's film Makkhi did not perform well in Hindi markets

In a recent interview, acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has opened up about his lifelong admiration for celebrated director SS Rajamouli. Johar, known for his sharp cinematic vision and storytelling flair, has described his fascination with Rajamouli's work as an "obsession" that predates their professional partnership.

Johar revealed that it was he who approached Rajamouli for the Baahubali franchise, not the other way around. "I was obsessed with Rajamouli from even before," Johar shared, explaining that he was inspired by Rajamouli's debut film "Student No. 1" when titling his own movie "Student of the Year." Johar also expressed disappointment that Rajamouli's 2012 film "Makkhi" did not perform well with Hindi-speaking audiences, calling it "one of the best films ever made."

The two filmmakers' collaboration on the Baahubali series proved to be a massive success, with both films achieving historic box office results and reaching massive audiences across India and beyond. Johar, who presented the Hindi versions of the films, described the partnership as a "game changer" that helped introduce Rajamouli's cinematic genius to wider audiences.