Unmoderated & Uncensored: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Karan Johar at WEF

DAVOS: Two time Oscar-winning Pakistani Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Karan Johar from India with no Oscars but renowned almost just as far and wide, sat down at the World Economic Forum in a one-on-one session talking uncensored and unmoderated about their upbringing, their work and its impact on the world.

In the thirty-minute conversation the two discussed everything from emancipation of women in the subcontinent, to the constant victim of India-Pakistan relations - the films.

When they finally started taking questions from the audience; with each one it became even more entertaining and enlightening, as the conversation went from Karan's dance steps from childhood towards topics that he didn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole. Waste no more time, and click play.

In case you want to read a bit more about the genial, witty exchange of comments between the two across-the-border heavyweights, we can give you a fair share of highlights.

At the beginning of the conversation, KJO expresses his inability to let go of his interviewer persona to which Sharmeen promptly replies that she always wanted to attend ‘Koffee with Karan’.

KJO highly praised Sharmeen saying that she is a skilled documentary maker and her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards highly impressed him.

The Indian filmmaker asked Sharmeen how she takes criticism. Sharmeen responded that she now has indifference to these matters as people try to drown out someone’s voice who has impact.

People misdirect their anger on the one raising an issue rather than directing it at the problem at hand.

Sharmeen while apparently acknowledging the renowned Indian filmmaker made a funny remark saying ‘she grew up watching Karan Johar’s movies’.

Johar was quick not to let the remark slide, saying that even though he’s 44 years old, Sharmeen is only six years younger than him. “I even searched her age on Wikipedia,” he said.

Once the laughter from the audience subsided, Sharmeen said that KJO’s work made her realise the value of love, especially in the part of the world where women aren’t much expressive.

Shedding some light on her childhood memories, the Oscar-winner said that her father was a ‘tall, imposing man’. Despite being a father to six daughters, he still told me to tell the world truth.

KJO, meanwhile had a rather funny take on his childhood memories, he said that he generally danced to the famous songs (mostly impersonating a heroine). I do not consider myself much of an actor, he said.

Hope Fawad finds the best platform, says cautious KJO

Sharmeen in a reference to Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, said that she hopes that one day she will be able to see Fawad working in one of KJO’s films again.

“We need to do things near to our hearts as artists,” she said.

To which a cautious KJO replied that he went through a lot of trouble despite having a lot of respect for Fawad Khan.

“I wish Fawad finds the best platform,” he said.

During the Q&A session, an audience member asked them why due to a ban on actors across the border, a consumer has to suffer.

Sharmeen responded that the bans are self-imposed and rather unofficial, adding that they are regarded as a form of patriotism.  No one is in the favour of self-inflicted pain.

Her response was met by sheer agreement from the Indian filmmaker.

In her ending remark, Sharmeen Obaid said that a boundary doesn’t make people enemies and it is our responsibility to ensure that our children live in peace.