Karan Johar made his directorial debut with the romantic drama Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, and Salman Khan, in 1998. The film was critically acclaimed and a commercial blockbuster, and even won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film For Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
In a recent conversation with ace fashion designer Prabal Gurung, Karan walked down the memory lane and recalled making his first movie. The filmmaker then revealed that the legendary lyricist Javed Akhtar refused to write lyrics for the film because of its title, but later regretted his decision after the film became a success.
"Javed sahab had a problem with the title Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, we had a creative disagreement and he told me, ‘I don’t feel like I can write the lyrics of this film’s songs’ and it was a very amicable. I told him that it is my desire to work with you and he said, ‘We will work Karan another time.’ But when the film released, he called me and told me that he was wrong", said Karan Johar.
The director also shared that a couple of actors declined him for Aman's role, which was eventually played by Salman Khan in the film. He added, "After Chandrachur Singh and Saif Ali Khan said no, I was very depressed. One day, I was at Chunky Panday’s house for a party and Salman came up to me and said ‘I heard you have been shopping’. He said you need to be really confident to do that part and asked me to come and narrate it to him the next day", and when Karan did narrate the script to him, the Sultan actor agreed to do the film.
Also starring Farida Jalal, Anupam Kher, Sana Saeed, Archana Puran Singh, Reema Lagoo, Himani Shivpuri, and Johnny Lever among others, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will celebrate 25 years of its release in October next month.
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