In a recent revelation, Karan Johar labeled his 1998 film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH) as “hypocritical,” admitting that the primary motivation behind making the movie was to restore his father Yash Johar’s pride after a series of box office flops. The confession came during Johar’s appearance on Lilly Singh’s podcast, where he discussed his career and the pressures of the film industry.
“I just wanted to make a very big hit. I was 24 years old when I wrote Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and as a producer’s son, I grew up understanding box office business and how our country has a varied audience. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was not just another film for us; it was a mission to bring back the smile on my father’s face after five flops in a row,” Johar stated.
“My father was a very loved man, but he was also a producer who had made a series of unsuccessful films – five back-to-back failures. I just wanted to make a big, monstrous hit for my dad… I wasn’t thinking of contributing to society or to make a film that would make a difference, or a politically correct thing that would be impressionable… I knew if this film didn’t work, it would be the end of Dharma Productions as we knew it.”
The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, became a massive hit, redefining Bollywood romance and becoming a cultural phenomenon. However, Johar pointed out that the narrative of the film, which revolves around themes of love, friendship, and the portrayal of gender roles, now seems out of touch with contemporary sensibilities.
“When I look back at my first film, I’m very proud of all the love it has received, but I also question the gender politics, some of the dialogues, and the cringe moments. When I see them now, I think, ‘What was I thinking?’ I was young and new to cinema. I am allowed to make my mistakes” Johar reflected.
Despite the film’s success, Johar has since acknowledged the criticisms regarding the movie’s portrayal of women and the problematic aspects of its plot. Talking about the character of Rahul, played by Shah Rukh Khan, Johar said he now sees him as a ‘hypocrite.’ “That character came from me because I was writing the dialogues. He fell for the hot girl, and then when the girl he didn’t like became hot, he fell in love with her. Was he just chasing surface-level good looks? That was all my writing. I didn’t realize at the time that I was feeding a certain school of thought. I just wanted to make a blockbuster.”
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