Karan Johar parts ways with Bunty Sajdeh, buys out his 45% stake in DCA talent agency
In a significant development, Karan Johar, the renowned film director and producer, has announced that he has parted ways with celebrity manager Bunty Sajdeh, his partner at Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA). As part of this restructuring move, Johar’s Dharma Productions has acquired Cornerstone’s 45% stake in DCA, which has now been relaunched as Dharma Collab Artists Agency.
This major shake-up comes on the heels of Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India, acquiring a 50% stake in Dharma Productions for a whopping ₹1,000 crore. The investment is expected to propel Dharma Productions to new heights, and this latest move is seen as a strategic step in the company’s expansion plans.
Karan Johar took to Instagram to confirm the news, stating that he has ended his partnership with Bunty Sajdeh, who had been instrumental in shaping the careers of several top Bollywood stars, including Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Arjun Kapoor, among others. Sajdeh’s Cornerstone had a significant stake in DCA, but Johar has now bought out his share, effectively taking control of the talent agency.
The Dharma Cornerstone Agency was set up in 2020, with the aim of providing a platform for new and emerging talent in the entertainment industry. The agency had been working closely with Dharma Productions to identify and nurture fresh faces, and had already made a significant impact in the industry. However, with the parting of ways between Johar and Sajdeh, the agency will now be rebranded as Dharma Collab Artists Agency, and will continue to operate under the Dharma Productions umbrella.
This move is seen as a strategic decision by Johar to consolidate his position in the industry and to take greater control of his business ventures. With the acquisition of Cornerstone’s stake in DCA, Johar will now have complete control over the talent agency, and will be able to shape its direction and strategy to align with his vision for Dharma Productions.
The partnership between Johar and Sajdeh had been a successful one, with the two having worked together to launch the careers of several top stars. However, with the changing dynamics of the industry, and the need for greater control and flexibility, Johar has decided to go solo and take the reins of DCA in his own hands.
The relaunch of DCA as Dharma Collab Artists Agency is expected to bring about a new era of collaboration and innovation in the talent management space. With Johar at the helm, the agency is expected to leverage its relationships with top talent and industry stakeholders to create new and exciting opportunities for its clients.
In a statement, Johar expressed his gratitude to Sajdeh for his contribution to DCA, and stated that he was excited about the new chapter in the agency’s journey. “I want to thank Bunty for his invaluable contribution to DCA, and for being an integral part of our journey so far,” Johar said. “As we move forward, I am excited to take the agency to new heights, and to create new opportunities for our clients and partners.”
The acquisition of Cornerstone’s stake in DCA is a significant move by Johar, and is expected to have far-reaching implications for the industry. With his increased control over the talent agency, Johar will be able to shape the careers of his clients and create new opportunities for them, both within and outside of Dharma Productions.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, the need for innovative and forward-thinking talent management agencies has never been greater. With the relaunch of DCA as Dharma Collab Artists Agency, Johar has sent a clear signal that he is committed to staying ahead of the curve, and to creating new and exciting opportunities for his clients and partners.
In conclusion, the parting of ways between Karan Johar and Bunty Sajdeh marks a new chapter in the journey of Dharma Cornerstone Agency, now rebranded as Dharma Collab Artists Agency. With Johar’s increased control over the talent agency, and the acquisition of Cornerstone’s stake, the agency is expected to continue to play a significant role in shaping the careers of top talent in the industry.