Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna completes 20 years since its release in 2006. The film, which dealt with extramarital relationships, created strong reactions among viewers. Karan Johar, the director, recently shared his memories of the film’s release and the mixed responses he received from audiences.
The filmmaker took to Instagram to write a detailed post about his experiences with the movie. He recalled attending a paid preview screening the night before the film’s official release. What he witnessed that evening stayed with him for two decades.
The theatre incident that shocked Karan Johar
Karan Johar revealed that he quietly sat among the audience during a paid preview of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Behind him sat a traditionally dressed middle-aged couple. He noticed they already seemed upset, taking out their anger on the popcorn they were eating.
Then came the scene where Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji’s characters, Dev and Maya, enter a hotel elevator and give in to their feelings for each other. The woman looked at her husband in shock and dropped her popcorn.
The husband turned around and calmly said in Gujarati, “Dream sequence che!” which means “It is a dream sequence”. He tried to reassure his wife that what they were watching was not real.
But a few minutes later, when they realised the scene was actually happening in the story and not a dream, the man’s reaction changed completely. He looked at his wife angrily and signalled that they should leave immediately. The couple got up and walked out of the theatre.
Karan Johar wrote that his “heart sank” when they left. He was worried about how the film would be received by the general public.
A woman confronted Karan Johar after the screening
The uncomfortable experiences did not end inside the theatre. After the show, Karan Johar stepped out and was approached by a woman with her crying daughter.
At first, he thought the daughter had been emotionally moved by the film. But the woman asked him, “Are you Karan Johar?” When he said yes, she launched into an angry outburst.
She told him, “I took my daughter to see a happy film with songs and dances and family values because it’s YOUR film. The DAY she got her DIVORCE and this is what I saw!! Shame on you”.
Karan Johar admitted he was worried she might hit him, so he quickly moved away. As he left, he noticed more angry faces around him.
The film received polarising reviews
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna opened to hugely mixed reactions from both critics and audiences. Karan Johar said he heard everything – from people calling it brave and his best work to others accusing it of going against traditional family values.
Some viewers labelled him “anti-sanskaari” (against cultural values) for making a film about infidelity. The movie questioned the sanctity of marriage and refused to present love in a neat, simple way.
But there were also people who appreciated the film’s boldness. Karan Johar recalled meeting a woman at an airport lounge a few weeks after the release. She told him she loved the film but had lied to her husband and said she hated it.
When he asked why, she explained that if she admitted she loved it, her husband would have asked what exactly she liked about it. It was easier for her to pretend she disliked it.
Karan Johar clarifies the film’s intention
Karan Johar strongly defended his film against accusations of endorsing infidelity. He made it clear that was never his intention.
“The film did not endorse infidelity (that was never ever my intention) but it did show that stepping out of the boundary of marriage to seek love or desire can destroy your very foundation and family,” he said.
He explained that the film explored what happens when people cross the boundaries of marriage in search of love, companionship or desire. It showed how those choices can affect families and relationships.
Karan Johar also admitted that the film had flaws. He called it “overblown” and said it included elaborate songs that were not always necessary. But he maintained that the film’s emotional core was sincere.
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How audiences view the film today
Looking back two decades later, Karan Johar feels the film struck a difficult nerve. He believes society often avoids uncomfortable conversations about relationships, especially when those realities are presented through popular stars in mainstream cinema.
Many people who could not understand or relate to the film when it released now tell him they see it differently today. Karan Johar suggested that life experiences change the way people interpret stories.
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was released on August 11, 2006. It starred Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Amitabh Bachchan in lead roles. The film was a commercial success and became the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of that year.
Despite the controversy and mixed reviews at the time of its release, the film went on to become a cult classic. Its ability to spark conversations about love, marriage and infidelity continues even today.
As Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna completes 20 years, Karan Johar expressed gratitude towards its cast and crew. For a film that was once intensely debated and criticised, its continued relevance may be one of its biggest achievements.
Also Read: Saurabh Sachdeva on Filmmaking: Playing Safe Leads to Bad Films, Uncertainty Fuels Creativity
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