The 1998 Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji starrer Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has many die hard fans. But, now that the cinema has evolved and so has the taste of the audience, many people find the iconic film problematic.
And, Karan Johar recently revealed that these people aren't the only ones who found problems with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Shabani Azmi too blasted Karan for portraying Kajol's in short hair as the unattractive character in the film.
Karan talked about the same while giving a speech at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, celebrating 20 years of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
According to a report in an entertainment website, Karan said, "KKHH is the most politically incorrect film. I remember (actress) Shabana Azmi saw the film somewhere in the UK and she called me. She was aghast."
He added, "She told me, 'what have you shown? That a girl has short hair, so she's not attractive, and now her hair is long and she's pretty? What do you have to say to this?' I said I'm sorry. She said, what? that's all you have to say?' I said yes because I know you're right."
In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Shah Rukh Khan's character Rahul Khanna is friends with Kajol, seen as Anjali in the film. While Anjali likes Rahul, he tries to woo his another classmate Tina Khanna, played by Rani Mukerji.
In the first half of the film Anjali is shown as a competitive tomboy, who sports short hair. Rahul ends up marrying Tina. But after Tina's death he happens to meet Anjali again, who now has long hair and wears saris. The film ends with Rahul and Anjali getting together.
Karan also talked about the casting process of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at the festival. He said, "I was ecstatic to meet SRK. Kajol and he had promised that they would work in my first film. So, I remember going to meet him and I had no script, and just had a scene in my mind, which I narrated to him. He bought into my bullsh*t! I told him if you like this one scene then I will narrate the entire film to you, which was completely a lie... Tabu, Urmila (Urmila Matondkar), Aishwarya (Aishwarya Rai) turned me down, and Ash was the only one who was polite to call me back. It took months to cast for Rani's part after Aditya Chopra recommended her."
On the work front, after a long break, Karan will get back to the director's chair in the multi-starrer Takht. The period drama stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bhumi Pednekar, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor.