KJo's Student Of The Year will be his shortest film

Known for his real extensively narrated tales, Karan Johar is now taking a different route for his newest film

. The duration of his campus flick would be just a little over two hours, which is a remarkable shift from each of his earlier four films that lasted for close to three hours or even more.

"This is the current trend of making films and Karan has decided not to break that. In any case his productions (which were not directed by him) have been of shorter duration as well and though it was tough for him to follow that for his own film, he has managed to do that", says a close associate of the director.

While

stays on to be Karan's lengthiest film at 215 minutes, his last release

(165 minutes) was his shortest, though strictly by his standards. Otherwise

(211 minutes) as well as

(185 minutes) have been largely expansive affairs.

"

hasn't been designed as a saga per se that requires an extended story to be told", a senior crew member adds, "Moreover this is the first time Karan is working with newcomers. With superstars you can still hold audience for three hours or more but with newcomers, it only makes sense to make it short and simple."

Commercially too it makes sense for a near two hour length as it allows

a large number of shows in multiplexes, hence allowing bigger moolah.

When contacted, Karan confirmed the developments. "Yes, this is going to be the shortest film of my career. Though I am yet to arrive at the final cut, it should be around 135-140 minutes at maximum."