Johar on Talent Agencies: '90% Handling People'

Filmmaker Karan Johar recently discussed the realities of talent management, emphasizing it's a role that requires strong interpersonal skills. He stated that managing egos and insecurities constitutes 90% of the job. Johar cautioned that focusing solely on talent management as a business opportunity is unlikely to succeed due to the inherent volatility and shifting loyalties of artists.

Johar highlighted that individual artists frequently switch agencies, making long-term investments in their careers challenging. He suggested that talent management agencies must evolve their revenue models to ensure sustainability. This involves exploring equity investments and partnerships with their talent, becoming stakeholders in their clients' success.

Furthermore, Johar explained that agencies are diversifying by setting up divisions for feature films and other projects. He argued that relying solely on artist commissions is inadequate, as artists themselves are often 'nobodies' without broader strategic support. Building other monetizable ventures, like film production, is crucial for agencies to thrive in the current entertainment landscape.