Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: Cast Reminisces on 25th Anniversary Shoot

It has been twenty-five years since the iconic Bollywood film “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” first graced the silver screen, and its enduring magic continues to resonate with millions of hearts. To commemorate this milestone, the cast, including Himani Shivpuri, Sana Saeed, and Parzaan Dastur, share delightful anecdotes from the making of this unforgettable classic.

As a child, working with such major superstars was a dream come true. The atmosphere was incredibly enjoyable, especially with many other kids on set. I was about six years old, and since we filmed during summer vacation, there were no worries about missing school. Even when we weren’t shooting, we spent our time playing games, solving puzzles, and coloring books. It felt like Disneyland for all of us kids, lasting for twenty whole days. Knowing that Shah Rukh and Kajol were a beloved pair from DDLJ made the experience even more exciting. We were well aware of who we were working with. Shooting the dance scenes was a blast, especially when Farah Khan and her veteran dance troupe joined us on set. They always had me do amusing things, like in “Ladki Badi Anjaani Hai,” where I held a fish and walked in front of SRK and Kajol. Shah Rukh was very friendly, and he even asked me about my birthday, which led to the discovery that we shared the same birth date. I also went on morning walks with Kajol, as the set was like a self-contained studio with no security concerns. My dad fondly recalls playing carom with Shah Rukh whenever he had a moment, since my parents sometimes joined me after shoots.

Even today, all the young people I meet tell me, ‘Rifatbi, my love remains incomplete.’ We had an absolute blast during the filming, but we never anticipated that it would still feel so fresh after 25 years. There’s a memorable scene where Kajol is playing basketball, and I accidentally got hit by the ball when it slipped from her hand. Karan gave her quite a scolding, saying ‘How dare you?’ and suspecting it might have been intentional. She immediately clarified and even apologized to me. Kajol had a tomboyish side, and Karan used to joke, ‘Thank goodness she’s a tomboy, it works for the first half, but how will I manage her in the second half?’ Everything still feels so vivid, I can hardly believe it’s been a quarter-century. Manish Malhotra gifted me some exquisite Lucknowi suits, and Karan insisted they were tailor-made for me. Now, I regret not bringing at least one costume with me.

I was eight years old during the filming of “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” and honestly, I had no idea what was going on. But, having done commercials before, I understood the workings of a set. This film marked my debut, and I had no inkling of the lasting impact it would have on my life. Even when I was very young, I would proudly declare that my favorite actor was Shah Rukh Khan. I had a vague understanding of ‘I really like this actor, and I’m getting to work with him.’ But now, looking back, I think, ‘Oh my God, he played my father!’ I had a wonderful time with Farida ji, who portrayed my grandmother. She felt like a real grandma on set. My mom’s name is also Farida, and I remember feeling a warm and familial connection with her. “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” was a groundbreaking film, truly one of a kind, akin to a priceless treasure. It should never be replicated; it’s like gold. I had a scene with SRK where he was in boxers and forgot to put on his pants. We all laughed so hard we could barely deliver our lines. Even when he left, he said ‘Driver, take off my pants’ instead of ‘Driver, bring the car,’ and I’m not sure if it was intentional, but it was certainly not in the script. It was hilarious for all of us.