Bollywood’s beloved rom-com Kuch Kuch Hota Hai turned 25 this month, and on the occasion of its anniversary, filmmaker-producer Karan Johar re-released the iconic movie in Mumbai.
To celebrate the 25 years of this generation-defining film, actors Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherji surprised the fans. Khan and Mukherji, along with director Karan Johar, visited a theatre in Mumbai during the special screening of their 1998 film.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai turns 25
Released in 1998, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was Karan Johar’s directorial debut alongside his father, Yash Johar, as producer. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles alongside Salman Khan and Sana Saeed in supporting roles. The film’s premise was mainly a relationship drama, following three college friends and their future over a long period of time.
At the screening, director Karan Johar discussed the impact and popularity of the widely loved film. Shah Rukh Khan addressed the audience in a heartfelt speech, saying “This film is an important landmark in our lives and hearts. It’s 25 years of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. We make films, some get forgotten, some do very well at that point in time, some just don’t do good at all. But this is one film that has stood the test of time and has aged very well. It has aged nearly as good as Karan Johar.”
Co-star Rani Mukerji also shared that she was just 17 years old when she shot the film, and it was her first film with Shah Rukh Khan. The actors later collaborated on Hey Ram, Veer Zaara, Paheli, Chalte Chalte, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, and several other films.
She added, “It feels great because today I have a daughter who is going to turn 8 in December, something like how Sana (Saeed, who played Anjali) was in the film. If Kuch Kuch Hota Hai hadn’t happened, maybe I wouldn’t have been the star that I am today. So thank you Karan and Shah Rukh. I always say nobody romances better than Shah Rukh. I learned how to romance on cinema from Shah Rukh.”
Kajol recreates Anjali’s look from the film
Although Kajol was absent from the screening of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, she treated her fans with a video of her rearing the iconic character of Anjali from her film. She captioned her post, “Stepping back into Anjali’s shoes after 25 years (couldn’t find the basketball though). So many memories and love attached to this film.. So glad that everyone loves it as much as I do. A first for Karan Johar and a beginning to an amazing journey for dharma movies.. Fabulous music that still resonates, even today.. #kkhh is and always will be a labour of love.”
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was celebrated for its candid portrayal of friendship and young love, becoming the poster for the classic yet escapist 90s. Its iconic line, “Pyaar, dosti hai” (love is friendship), became a popular catchphrase of all time.
