Karan Johar gets emotional after David Dhawan announces retirement with 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai': 'No. 1 man always'

Veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, 74, has made no secret of his intention to hang up his director's hat after his upcoming film ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, which stars his son Varun Dhawan and is set to be his final directorial outing. The announcement has left filmmaker Karan Johar with a heavy heart, stirring up a mix of emotions in him.

David Dhawan Film Festival to celebrate his cinematic journey

On Saturday, a noted theatrical chain marked the occasion with a special tribute to the iconic filmmaker by hosting the David Dhawan Film Festival to celebrate his remarkable cinematic journey. The event brought together David and his son Varun Dhawan, with Karan Johar also making an appearance that day.

Karan Johar's emotional reaction to David Dhawan's retirement announcement

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Karan opened up about a heartfelt exchange he had with David at the event, in which the veteran director revealed that ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ would mark the end of his filmmaking journey. Karan also did not hold back in sharing just how deeply the news had affected him. “Yesterday when I went to Davidjis celebration and he told me this was going to be his last film... I had a bittersweet reaction in my heart... here's a filmmaker who is responsible for creating and entire Genre of films... A DAVID DHAWAN film spells eneterttainment,” Karan wrote on Instagram stories.


The filmmaker added, “What must he feel saying this when he is an institution that so many filmmaker's have taken forward as inspiration.... He is LOVED and RESPECTED and CELEBRATED by our fraternity.... Theres NO opposing that!!! Here's to your summer blockbuster with your son .... DAVID DHAWAN NO 1 man always.”

'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai': David Dhawan returns after six years with Varun Dhawan

After a six-year gap, David is stepping behind the camera once again with ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, marking his fourth directorial collaboration with Varun. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde in lead roles, supported by Mouni Roy, Rakesh Bedi, Rajesh Kumar, Maniesh Paul, and others in key parts. Produced by Ramesh Taurani under Tips Films and co-produced by Gaurav Bose of Maximilian Films, the film is all set to arrive in theatres on June 5.