Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has said he is the “worst negotiator” after selling a 50 percent stake in his production company, Dharma Productions, in a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore. The investment came from Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla, who is now a major strategic partner in the company.
Speaking in a recent interview, Johar said that while he leads Dharma’s creative direction, the company’s business decisions and operations have always been managed by CEO Apoorva Mehta. Johar said Mehta has played a crucial role in helping Dharma grow into one of Bollywood’s most influential studios over the past two decades.
Johar explained that the decision to sell half of Dharma Productions was made to secure future expansion and bring in the financial strength needed to grow in new directions. He said the partnership would help broaden the studio’s scope across films, digital content, and talent management.
He added that although he is passionate about filmmaking and storytelling, he does not consider himself strong in business negotiations. “I can create, but I can’t negotiate,” he said, acknowledging that he prefers to stay away from deal-making discussions.
The deal also supports the growth of Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital content arm of Dharma, which has been producing shows and films for major streaming platforms.
Industry experts see the move as a significant step, as production houses increasingly seek investment partnerships to stay competitive in India’s expanding entertainment market.
