Karan Johar admits ‘hypocrisy’ in Shah Rukh Khan’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai character, recalls being reprimanded by Shabana Azmi

For the first time behind the director’s chair, Karan Johar helmed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Despite this movie eventually earning a place as a beloved cult classic, viewers weren’t entirely won over by Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of Rahul. In later discussions about the famous character, KJo acknowledged there was an underlying hypocrisy that hadn’t fully manifested. Additionally, actress Shabana Azmi scolded him after seeing the film. Keep reading!

During a recent chat with Lilly Singh, filmmaker Karan Johar reflected on his first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He admitted feeling proud of the film’s success today but also pondered over its gender politics, problematic dialogues, and awkward scenes. Looking back, he sometimes wonders, ‘What was I thinking?’ However, he reminded us that at the time, he was just starting out in cinema and learning from his mistakes.

Speaking about Shah Rukh Khan’s character, the renowned director and style icon expressed that at that time, Rahul wasn’t exactly a clear signal. Karan Johar explained, “He was a dubious signal. There was an underlying hypocrisy.” However, it’s worth noting that this ambiguity came from Karan while he was writing the dialogues, not Shah Rukh Khan himself.

In explaining why Rahul is seen as a hypocrite, the director of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham argued that he initially fell for an attractive girl, but later changed his affections to a woman who had previously not appealed to him when she became more attractive. Karan admitted that his writing may have been promoting a particular mindset at the time, and he wasn’t fully aware of it. He simply aimed to create a hit movie.

In the chat, he also recalled being scolded by veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who questioned Rahul’s behavior toward Anjali (played by Kajol). Realizing his mistake, KJo apologized to her for penning such a complicated and controversial character, stating that he didn’t think about any of that. As a 24-year-old and a producer’s son, all Karan wanted was to make a very big hit.

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2025-02-11 20:52