Karan Johar’s directorial debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which was released back in 1998, remains one of his most iconic works in Indian cinema. The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, was a massive hit among youngsters and has aged well with time. However, amid all the overflowing love, over the years, the film has often been criticized for its toxic masculinity, suggesting that a girl has to feel pretty and validated by a man to be loved. In fact, just a couple of years ago, even Karan admitted that the film was problematic.”
Back in 2019, during the Indian Film Festival at Melbourne, Karan agreed that how problematic the film was and in fact Shabana Azmi even blasted at him for the same. He shared, “KKHH is the most politically incorrect film. I remember (actress) Shabana Azmi saw the film somewhere in the UK and she called me. She was aghast,” he said in his speech.
In the film’s first half, Kajol portrays Anjali, a short-haired tomboy secretly in love with her best friend Rahul (SRK). However Rahul was in love with Tina (Rani), who was stylish and extremely girly. Almost 8 years later, Tina has a massive glow up, she has ditched the jeans, and has started wearing sarees and also has long hair.
He added, “She told me, ‘what have you shown? That a girl has short hair, so she’s not attractive, and now her hair is long and she’s pretty? What do you have to say to this?’ I said I’m sorry. She said, what? That’s all you have to say?’ I said yes because I know you’re right.”
KJo has also opened up about the casting process for the film, “I was ecstatic to meet SRK. Kajol and he had promised that they would work in my first film. So, I remember going to meet him and I had no script, and just had a scene in my mind, which I narrated to him. He bought into my bullsh*t! I told him if you like this one scene then I will narrate the entire film to you, which was completely a lie… Tabu, Urmila (Urmila Matondkar), Aishwarya (Aishwarya Rai) turned me down, and Ash was the only one who was polite to call me back. It took months to cast for Rani’s part after Aditya Chopra recommended her.”
Karan Johar began his career as a director with SRK in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The film recently completed 25 years.
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