Karan Johar talks about South and Hindi cinema debate during WAVES 2025: 'We are all Indian cinema, don't divide us'

Karan Johar 2025 WAVES

Renowned director Karan Johar spoke at the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai, highlighting the Indian film industry's unity in the face of the ongoing North vs. South cinema controversy.

Speaking at a special session with Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor and Telugu film star Vijay Deverakonda, Karan passionately argued against making regional distinctions in Indian cinema.

“I do believe Vijay, you come from a cinema which is truly majestic, and that is, of course, a separate debate: Is South cinema superior to Hindi cinema. I think that divides us. We truly have to believe that it is Indian cinema. We are all Indian cinema. We are not North, we are not South, we are collectively making cinema what it is. I think that’s most important that we don’t divide. I always say this, and I request Indian media that when you ask this, you are actually dividing us. And when you divide us, you break us,” said Karan during the session titled Cinema: The Soft Power.

Vijay Deverakonda echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that while such debates might generate headlines, they are ultimately counterproductive. “The South-North debate can be interesting for headlines but not very productive for cinema,” he noted.

Using the massive commercial successes of Pushpa 2: The Rule and Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan—both crossing ₹1000 crore—Vijay highlighted the immense potential in collaboration. “Shah Rukh sir’s last film did a ₹1000 crore film, and then Allu Arjun’s film did ₹1000 crore. So, just imagine if you bring them together in one film. When you bring the two stars from India, it will unite the country,” he added.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's WAVES 2025 event provides a forum for the development of India's media and entertainment industries.

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Over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 content producers, 300 companies, and 350 startups from more than 90 countries are participating in the summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened on May 1.

The four-day event, which ends on May 4, intends to foster cross-regional cooperation within the industry and highlight the international potential of Indian cinema.