In a move garnering public attention from the Bollywood world to the business marketplace, businessman Adar Poonawalla has acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Serene Entertainment, owned by Poonawalla, earned the stake for ₹1,000 crore, leaving the remaining half of the production house to Johar.
Poonawalla elaborates, “I am thrilled to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in years to come.”.
“Dharma Productions has always been about heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. With Adar, a close friend, and exceptional visionary, we are ready to elevate Dharma’s legacy. This partnership combines our storytelling strengths with innovative business strategies, opening up new possibilities for content that resonates across generations,” said Karan Johar, executive chairman, while sharing his excitement over the same.
Founded by Karan Johar’s father, Yash Johar, back in 1976, Dharma Productions has been the mainstay of Indian cinema by the time of its first prominent film, Dostana, where Amitabh Bachchan was featured in 1980. After the death of Yash Johar, Karan Johar took on the responsibility and moved on to direct his first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, when he was just 25 years old. Under his belt, the company has produced nearly 50 films, including blockbusters like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Dear Zindagi.
Dharma has also launched the careers of many young stars—Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, for instance. In 2018, Karan Johar expanded the brand with Dharmatic Entertainment, which focuses on original content for international streaming platforms. Teaming with Netflix and Amazon Prime, Dharma produced shows such as The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives.
This new alliance is a promising venture for Dharma Productions, considering it was taken over by Poonawalla, with Johar anticipating that it will continue its legacy while embracing an evolving entertainment landscape.
