Karan Johar’s first directorial enterprise, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, holds a particular place in Bollywood’s historical past, hailed as an iconic movie since its launch in 1998. Over time, nonetheless, the film confronted criticism for perpetuating poisonous masculinity and regressive notions regarding feminine illustration, sparking debates about its underlying themes.
Acknowledging the movie’s problematic parts, Karan Johar brazenly addressed its flaws, citing an impactful critique from veteran actress Shabana Azmi. On the Indian Movie Pageant in Melbourne in 2019, Johar recalled Azmi’s candid response upon watching the movie. She expressed disappointment relating to its on-screen portrayal, labelling KKHH as “essentially the most politically incorrect movie.” Azmi notably raised issues concerning the stereotypical hyperlink between a lady’s magnificence and the size of her hair. Karan humbly accepted her viewpoint, admitting, “I do know you are proper,” in response to her passionate critique.
Reflecting on the casting course of, Johar shared an anecdote about pitching the movie to Shah Rukh Khan and not using a script, relying solely on a scene to captivate the actor’s curiosity. Regardless of preliminary refusals from outstanding actresses like Tabu, Urmila Matondkar, and Aishwarya Rai, Karan reminisced about Rani Mukerji’s eventual casting after a suggestion from Aditya Chopra.
