Karan Johar is unofficial Bollywood ambassador

Mumbai -- Filmmaker Karan Johar has discovered a new vocation for himself -- and the role of Bollywood ambassador suits him just fine.

"I've always said I'm a people's person. And to be able to talk about our cinema with audiences abroad is an experience I hold close to my heart," Johar told IANS in an interview.

Johar is ecstatic about the response he got while addressing business-management alumni at Wharton University.

"They were all clued into our cinema, and amazingly interactive. Most of their questions were about this year's two reformist films 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai'. These two films have completely changed western perceptions of our cinema.

"From being a song-and-dance oddity, we're now looked at as purveyors of a cinema with serious stimulating ideas put together in a palatable style."

Johar feels that these films are similar to the socially relevant films made in the 50s.

"Earlier, in the 1950s we had the socially relevant cinema of Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt like 'Awara', 'Sri 420' and 'Pyaasa'. But then the movement petered out. I believe 'Rang De Basanti" and 'Lage Raho...' have revived the influence of reformist cinema not just in India but in the West."

Johar sees 'Munna Bhai' as reviving interest in Gandhism in the western world.

"Mahatma Gandhi was always our father-figure. But somewhere his significance had been lost to the younger generation. While at Wharton I was amazed by the interest in Gandhian thought. I was repeatedly questioned on how much Rajkumar Hirani's film reflected the wider social reality."

Johar was also asked about the urban Indian marriage as shown in his film "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna".

"They wanted to know how I could make the film that I did with stars with established images. I think it's simply amazing how much interest America has in our cinema."

Johar has also taken time off to crystallise an idea for his next movie.

"All I can say is, it will have a title beginning with 'K'. No matter how much things change for us in Indian cinema, some things remain the same."