25 years of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’: Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji celebrate landmark film

Released in 1998, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ was celebrated for its candid portrayal of friendship and young love, becoming a representative classic of the heady, escapist 90s

Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar recently hosted a special screening of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in Mumbai, marking 25 years of his generation-defining film.

Released in 1998, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was Johar’s directorial debut starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles. The film, essentially a relationship drama, follows three college friends and their destinies over a long period of time. It was celebrated for its candid portrayal of friendship and young love, becoming a representative classic of the heady, escapist 90s. Its iconic line — ‘Pyaar, dosti hai’ (love is friendship) — became a catchphrase of the times. The film was also a major hit with the diaspora audience in the West.

At the screening, Johar was joined by Shah Rukh Khanand Rani Mukerji as they discussed the impact of the widely-loved film. Kajol, however, was not present at the event.

“This film is an important landmark in our lives and hearts,” Shah Rukh Khan told the cheering audience. “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,” SRK said.

Johar, returning the compliment, called the Jawan actor the ‘biggest movie star in the world’.

Rani Mukerji recalled she was just 17 when she filmed for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. It was Mukherji’s first film with Shah Rukh Khan. The actors would later collaborate on Hey Ram, Veer Zaara, Paheli, Chalte Chalte, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and other films.

“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,” Mukherjee beamed.