the dharma production group
Heart-warming storylines… Stellar megastar casts… Record box-office collections… These are what make up our celluloid dreams at Dharma Productions. Enrapturing audiences all around the world, our films have raked in success for the company and its associates.

Dharma Productions Pvt. Limited was established by Late Shri Yash Johar in 1976 to produce high quality celluliod entertainment that would strive to be accepted and appreciated by audiences across the world. Set up back then under the banner of Dharma Productions Pvt. Ltd., the company soon became a buzzword for stellar productions with releases such as 'Dostana', 'Duniya', 'Muqaddar Ka Faisla', 'Agneepath' and 'Gumrah'.

Dharma Productions Pvt. Ltd reputation as a clean, honest company grew with each of these films and helped build a tremendous amount of goodwill within the fraternity.

From then on Yash Johar formed a proprietory concern under the name of Dharma Productions in 1997.

What followed next was cinematic history from Dharma Productions.

1998 saw the release of Dharma Productions 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' ('Heartbeats'), the directorial debut of Karan Johar (son of Mr. Yash Johar) that featured the most loved on-screen couple of contemporary Indian cinema, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. This massive production turned into a huge box office blockbuster and became the first Indian feature film to figure in the UK Top 10 (Empire, December 1998), featuring in sold out shows at the Odeon Marble Arch and at The Empire - Leicester Square in the West End of London.

'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' not only broke box-office records but also accumulated a number of National and International awards. Hailed for its superlative performances and excellent craftsmanship 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' is acclaimed for its unparalleled standards in Presentation and Production Mounting even today. Its landmark recognition has been the Indian National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, a signature achievement for the mission and hallmark of Dharma Productions.

All of these landmark achievements set up a huge expectancy and anticipation for the next movie from Dharma Productions, and Karan Johar did not fail to deliver. 2001 saw the release of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', ('Laughter and Sadness'), which was scripted and directed by Karan Johar and featured a line-up of Indian megastars across generations. This movie lit up the silver screen with its casting coup of industry stalwarts Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, contemporary megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, and current heartthrobs Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor.

'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' represented everything that was ever expected of a Dharma Productions movie in terms of its grandeur, exquisiteness, and touching storyline that won millions of hearts across the world. The movie established new box-office benchmarks, featured in both the US and UK Top Ten Listings, and went on to win awards at a host of National and International Film Festivals.

‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ was released all over the world with 635 prints and holds the distinction of being the highest grossing Indian film in the UK and USA. It made its debut at No. 3 on the UK chart (behind Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings) and was on the Top Ten Films in UK for 4 consecutive weeks in a row. Besides being invited at various International Film Festivals across the Globe, it has also been listed in the Top 20 Asian Films by admission in Europe in the Cannes Film Festival 2002. In fact ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ is the first Indian film to have a mainstream release in the territories of Germany, France and Poland. It was very well received with Five Awards including the Best Actress Awards for Kajol at the Valenciennes International Film Festival, FRANCE. Infact Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham holds the distinction of being the highest grossing Indian Film in the International Market.

In order to take Dharma Productions into the future Karan Johar embarked on producing films for independent directors under his banner. The first step towards this goal was ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ a film produced by Dharma Productions, written by Karan Johar and directed by Nikhil Advani. Music for the film was composed by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy and Lyrics penned by Javed Akhtar.

‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, besides starring old favourites like Jaya Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, also had Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan who worked with Dharma Productions for the first time. The film was released with 532 prints worldwide. This film also became a top grosser in UK and USA. Following with the successful screenings of ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ at various International film Festivals, ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ also had a breakthrough at the International Film Festival - Faces of love, MOSCOW and Internatonal Filmfestpiele Berlinale, BERLIN.

The Screenplay of ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ has found a place in the Oscar Archives at the Library of Motion Pictures, Arts and Science, an academy where scripts are collected and preserved mainly for the use for research by actors, students, film-makers and writers who are regular patrons of the library.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Never Say Goodbye), the third directorial venture from Karan Johar dealt with the mature and bold theme of infidelity and was received with a tremendous response internationally. Apart from being a commercial success, the film raised a lot of debate in the country on the changing views on marriage in India. The varied opinions on the film’s point of view only added to the company’s profile as a production house unafraid to raise issues that are less discussed.

Released in August 2006, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Never Say Goodbye) has grossed a record-breaking sales of US $ 30 million worldwide. It holds the distinction of having the biggest opening worldwide ever in the history of Indian Cinema and has gone on to become the highest grossing Indian film in the Overseas Market to date.

Dostana (Friendship), Tarun Mansukhani’s directorial debut, was released worldwide in November 2008. Rated as one of the finest comedies of the year, Dostana continued Dharma Productions’ endeavour to push the envelope thematically. The film initiated debates all over India about homosexuality and attained pop-culture status for the subject - a mammoth task in a country where homosexuality is still legally banned. By the use of humour, Dostana helped homosexuality enter drawing room, dining room and board room discussions. Dostana was a commercial success as well, raking in over US $ 20 million worldwide.

Dharma Productions is presently involved in 4 projects, two of which will release in 2009 and the others in 2010. First up will be Wake Up Sid, the directorial debut of Ayan Mukerji. Shot entirely in Mumbai, the film has today’s youth icon, Ranbir Kapoor, in the leading role. One of the finest actresses in India today, Konkana SenSharma will be paired opposite Ranbir. A coming of age film, Wake Up Sid takes a look at young India’s aspirations and sense of purpose. Wake Up Sid is due for release on Oct 2, 2009.

This will be followed by Rensil D’Silva’s directorial debut in November 2009, tentatively titled Kurbaan. In leading role will be Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. The film is set in today’s ever-so familiar world where a terrorist attack looks more imminent than ever. Again Dharma Productions looks at a new theme, albiet controversial, to take storytelling to newer heights.

My Name is Khan, Karan Johar’s fourth directorial venture, and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, will release in early 2010. Set against the backdrop of the aftermath of 9/11, the film deals with racial stereotyping suffered by Asians in America and one man’s quest to spread the message of tolerance and love.

Dharma Productions will also release their debut animation film in 2010. Titled Koochie Koochie Hota Hai, the film celebrates Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, but with a major twist. Set in a worlds where animals talk , walk and dance like humans, look out for this new adaptation of what is believed to be a cult classic.