Karan Johar Reveals Shabana Azmi Critiqued Kuch Kuch Hota Hai For Gender Politics: 'I Don't Like...'

Karan Johar has often reflected on the gender politics portrayed in his iconic film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, admitting to several missteps. In a recent conversation with comedian Zakir Khan on the show ‘Aapka Apna Zakir Khan’, Johar recounted how veteran actor Shabana Azmi once confronted him about the flawed gender dynamics in his debut film. Karan shared that he had apologized to her for these shortcomings.

He expressed his self-criticism, saying, “I don’t like any of my films, I find a lot of mistakes in my films. I feel cringy while watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai now. I feel, ‘What have I made?’ Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has a lot of mistakes. From where do I start? I remember Shabana ji had called me and asked me, ‘What is the gender politics of this film? When Kajol’s character had short hair, Shah Rukh Khan’s character didn’t fall in love with her but when she grew her hair long and she became beautiful, he fell in love with her. What do you have to say on this?’ I responded. ‘I will want to say I am sorry. I didn’t know.’”

Earlier, during an event at IIMUN, Karan had also criticized ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ for its portrayal of gender roles, acknowledging that it “propagated wrong gender politics.” He reflected, “I feel like I have grown as an individual, The first film that I made, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, I firmly believe that the gender politics of that film was all wrong. It is propagating incorrect gender politics, there is a lot of surfacesness in that film. Of course, there is nostalgia so you love it, but you don’t scratch the surface of the film and see that what Rahul is doing is actually not what I would want all the Rahuls in the audience, or all the boys in general, to do.”

‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ is a 1998 Bollywood romantic drama film directed by Karan Johar, marking his debut as a filmmaker. The movie became an iconic part of Indian cinema, known for its memorable dialogues, music, and strong performances by its leading actors—Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji.

The story revolves around Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), his best friend Anjali (Kajol), and the love triangle that develops when Tina (Rani Mukerji) enters their lives. The film is split into two parts: the first follows the college years of the characters, highlighting friendship, unrequited love, and heartbreak, while the second part focuses on the reunion of Rahul and Anjali, sparked by a letter Tina leaves for her daughter before she passes away.

‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ explores themes of love, friendship, and destiny, with a blend of humor, emotion, and drama. The film is remembered for its colorful, youthful vibe, and its soundtrack, which features timeless hits like ‘Tujhe Yaad Na Meri Aayi,’ ‘Ladki Badi Anjaani Hai,’ and the title track ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.’