`India`s Got Talent` has exposed me to our country: Karan Johar

Mumbai: He always wanted to do ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’, but filmmaker Karan Johar says that ‘India`s Got Talent’ (IGT) is his window to the country and that he has gained a lot by being part of the talent show.

Karan started his stint as a judge on small screen with the fifth season of ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’, which is ending Sunday, and he is also on the judging panel of ‘India`s Got Talent’ that went on air Sep 22. Drawing a comparison between the two, Karan said: "`Jhalak...` is the show I always wanted to do but never had the time for, whereas IGT fascinated me tremendously. `Jhalak...` is a celebrity dance show whereas as IGT brings hidden talent from across the country. It is very fascinating and I feel it has nurtured me." "I have gained from it more than I have given to the show. It has exposed me to our country, which is full of talent and more than that there are these human stories that come along with it." ‘India`s Got Talent’, Indian franchise of the ‘Got Talent’ series, basically hunts for hidden and unique talents from across the country. Talking about the talent showcased on the show, Karan said that anything that is "creative and beautiful" should surely be encouraged. "Being on television gives the contestants a new space. The show enhances our cultural roots. I love how people blend the old folk with new age stuff. They bring Bollywood sometimes in it to make it more interesting." Do you think your TV appearances and association with these two popular shows have helped you in connecting to a wider audiences? "I did not do it to to create a mass demographics for myself. I believe if you are the kind of person who can connect with people and strike that chord, it does not matter if you come from an urban or rural background. With my presence on TV I have managed to make a human connect," said the 40-year-old, who owns one of leading movie banners Dharma Productions in Bollywood. Karan, whose next directorial venture "Student Of The Year" releases Oct 19, shares the judging panel of IGT with actress Kirron Kher, who has been judging the show since its inception and Malaika Arora Khan, who has joined this season. "Kirronji is a veteran of the show and the face of IGT. She is outstanding as a judge and I learned so much from her on the show," he said. IANS