Karan Johar knows how to create a friendly atmosphere: Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi has a new best friend. And it’s all because of Karan Johar.

“Jaya Bachchan and I have known one another for ages. But somehow, we never got around to being friends. Whenever we would meet socially, and that was quite often, we were cordial. But that was it,” admits Shabana.

Her equation with Jaya Bachchan changed drastically on the sets of Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani where Shabana Azmi and Jaya Bachchan play grandmothers to Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, respectively.

“Would you believe it, on screen we are supposed to be fighting constantly. Once the camera was switched off, we gradually became friends, then very close friends,” reveals Shabana.

Both hugely lauded actresses, Shabana confesses she has always been a Jaya Bachchan fan. “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen Abhimaan and Mili. Jaya has been a huge inspiration in my career. But I never knew she was so much fun. Jaya is the life and breath on the sets of Karan’s film.”

Shabana gives the credit for her new friendship to Karan Johar. “On his set the atmosphere is so happy and relaxed. Every actor is in a good mood always. Karan makes every actor feel special. There is no sense of competitiveness between anyone.”

Describing him as super-gregarious Shabana says, “Karan is a people’s person. He loves meeting new people, finding out about their lives. I am also very inquisitive. I ask so many questions, just like Karan does.”

How does Shabana find Karan Johar as a filmmaker? “You know, it’s easy to undermine his abilities because he is never into promoting his own talent. I am working with him for the first time. I find him to be a very special director. He knows exactly what he wants each actor to do. Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is shaping into a very special film.”