MUMBAI: One is well aware that Karan Johar plays an antagonist in Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Bombay Velvet’ and has shades of grey. But with the first schedule underway in Sri Lanka, where the Bombay of the 60’s is recreated, Karan Johar’s character bears a strong resemblance to the Parsi media honcho at that time.

Karan Johar plays Kaizad Khambatta, a flamboyant journalist with a high-end attitude. His Parsi character is quite similar to Russi Karanjia or Rustom Kurshedji Karanjia, the founder of Cine Blitz Magazine.

The Parsi media honcho created quite a stir with his attitude at that time, fearlessly exposing stars and featuring an actress nude in the very first edition of the magazine.

Karan Johar’s character bears similar resemblance as Kaizad Khambatta but is purely fictional. His character too rails against the powerful and Karan Johar plays a huge media tycoon to resurrect his empire.

The multi-talented director, now actor, is Punjabi in real life. It will be great to see Karan Johar play Parsi bawa with aplomb.

‘Bombay Velvet’ directed by Anurag Kashyap, also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and co-produced by Fox Star Studios will release on 25 December 2014.