Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ remains one of the filmmaker’s most discussed films, particularly because of the complicated relationships at its centre. Released in 2006, the Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji-starrer explored infidelity, unhappy marriages and an extramarital relationship between Dev and Maya, two people who find themselves questioning their respective marriages. Nearly two decades after its release, Johar has opened up about the challenges he faced while making the film and revealed that Shah Rukh Khan himself was initially unsure about how audiences would respond to Dev.According to SCREEN, during the shoot, the actor approached Karan with a concern about his character. Shah Rukh told the filmmaker, “I don’t know how to make myself likeable.”Karan Johar recalled reassuring him by pointing out that audiences already had a strong connection with him. “You’re Shah Rukh Khan! You have everyone at hello,” he told the actor, referring to a famous line from the Hollywood romantic comedy ‘Jerry Maguire’.
Making Shah Rukh Khan play a flawed character was a risk
Speaking at the Marrakech Film Festival, Johar described ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ as a particularly complicated film to execute. One of the biggest challenges was placing Shah Rukh Khan, who had long been associated with romantic and family-oriented characters, in a morally complicated role.“‘How can you not love Shah Rukh Khan? You are love,’” Karan recalled telling the actor.The filmmaker admitted that there was considerable uncertainty about whether audiences would accept Dev. “For Shah Rukh Khan, who was the perfect lover, brother, husband, and son, to go out of the boundary of his marriage and have a love affair, we didn’t know an audience would accept that character or relationship,” Karan said.The film also marked a departure from the conventional romantic dramas that had established Shah Rukh as one of Hindi cinema’s biggest romantic stars. Both Dev and Maya were deliberately written as imperfect characters, with neither being presented as entirely right or wrong.
Karan Johar faced criticism throughout the making of the film
Karan admitted that almost every day on the set presented a new challenge. He was aware that he was taking a considerable risk with the subject as well as the characters.“I didn’t know how to justify them. They’re both really grey, flawed characters, and remain flawed right till the end of the film. So, it was a leap we were taking. In retrospect, I’m happy I did. But back then, there was a lot of chatter around why I’ve gone mad, lost the plot, making a movie like this, and done this to Shah Rukh Khan,” recalled Karan.The filmmaker also remembered being confronted by another actor, who questioned whether the film was effectively endorsing infidelity. Johar, however, stood by his decision to address the subject instead of avoiding it.“How can I endorse something which’s already sold out? Infidelity exists in everybody’s lives. We may brush it under the carpet, but it exists. This film doesn’t brush it under the carpet, it addresses it. I said, ‘I’m happy and proud of it. Thank you for your advice, but I won’t be taking it,’” said the filmmaker.
Karan Johar believes the film would still spark controversy today
Although ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ is often described as a film that was ahead of its time, Johar has a different perspective on how audiences might respond to it today.The filmmaker believes the subject could create even greater debate if the film were released now. “I don’t think our audiences are still ready for this kind of topic even 20 years later,” he said.Johar recalled one particularly memorable reaction from a theatre screening. A couple reportedly walked out after discovering that the intimate scene involving Dev and Maya was not simply a dream sequence, as they had initially assumed.
Karan Johar wanted the film to start a conversation
Despite the polarising response, Johar remains proud that the film generated strong reactions instead of leaving audiences indifferent.“There was a lot of polarisation back then, and there continues to be I’m sure. But it’s always better when cinema can start a conversation, as opposed to you watching and being indifferent to it,” he said.Johar recalled asking viewers who told him they either loved or hated the film to explain what had affected them about it. “When people used to come and say ‘I loved it’ or ‘I hated it’, I’d ask, ‘How come you hated it? Did it bother you at some personal level?’ They’d say, ‘Umm… I don’t know what to say.’ You can’t hate a film unless it’s struck a chord in some way. And I believe films should contribute to pop culture conversations,” added Karan.
