I am the 16th Director Karan Johar Launched: Good Newwz Helmer Raj Mehta

Having assisted on Dharma films like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Kapoor & Sons, was debuting with them a natural progression?

Karan Johar has launched so many new directors, I was the 16th director who he launched. He is someone who trusts people and goes by his instincts. So I knew that if I have a good story and approach Karan with it, there might be a chance for me to get the opportunity to direct and that’s what happened eventually. I also had a lot of support from Shashank Khaitan and Shakun Batra, directors of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Kapoor & Sons, respectively.

What has your journey been like, up until Good Newwz?

I went to film school in the US. I came to Mumbai about nine years ago and started assisting in films. The idea was to work with good producers and directors to hone my craft. There’s no learning like learning on the job. Eventually I got an opportunity to work as the first AD on Shashank Khaitan’s Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. Then I did a couple of other films with Dharma Productions as an assistant and I kept writing in the meantime.