Some films are remembered not just for their stories but for the conversations they create years after their release. Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) is one such film and as it completes 20 years, the filmmaker has looked back at the strong reactions the movie received when it first arrived in theatres. Released on August 11, 2006, the romantic drama starred Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta and Amitabh Bachchan. Set mainly in New York, the film explored marriage, infidelity, love and complicated relationships.
Karan Johar recently shared a lengthy post on Instagram, remembering the journey of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. He recalled how the movie received extremely divided reactions, with some people calling it one of his best works while others criticised it for going against traditional family values. The filmmaker admitted that the movie was not perfect and had several flaws but he always believed that its emotional core was genuine.
Karan also remembered attending a paid preview screening the night before the film’s release. Instead of sitting separately, he quietly watched the movie among the audience and found himself seated behind a middle-aged couple. During the hotel elevator scene involving Dev and Maya, the couple initially appeared shocked. The husband reportedly assumed that the sequence might be a dream but when he realised that it was actually part of the story, he got upset and wanted to leave the theatre. The couple eventually walked out, leaving Karan worried about how audiences would react to the film.
Karan said he left the screening with mixed emotions. Soon afterward, he encountered a woman who recognised him while she was with her crying daughter. The woman had expected a happy family entertainer and was upset that the film instead dealt with divorce, marital problems and complicated relationships. Karan recalled seeing several unhappy faces and decided it was better to move away from the situation.
When Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was released, its response was far from uniform. Karan said he heard almost every possible reaction. Some viewers considered the film bold and among his best work, while others strongly criticised its treatment of relationships and labelled it as being against traditional “sanskaari” values.
A few weeks later, Karan had another memorable encounter at an airport lounge. A woman told him that she actually loved the movie but had told her husband that she disliked it. When Karan asked why she did so, she explained that admitting she enjoyed the film could have led to uncomfortable questions about what exactly she liked about its controversial subject matter. So, according to her, pretending to dislike it was simply easier.
Looking back after 20 years, Karan did not try to present Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna as a flawless film. He acknowledged that the movie was overly large in scale and included several lavish songs, some of which he now feels were unnecessary and were influenced by his understanding of mainstream Bollywood cinema. However, he remains convinced that the film’s intentions came from the right place. According to Karan, the story dealt with an uncomfortable reality that society often prefers to avoid discussing. He wanted audiences to confront complicated emotions surrounding marriage, love and desire rather than simply receive an easy right-or-wrong answer.
Karan also clarified an important point about the movie’s message. He said the film was never intended to endorse infidelity. Instead, it attempted to show how looking outside a marriage for love or desire can have devastating consequences and can damage the very foundation of a relationship and a family. For him, the purpose was not to tell audiences which character was completely right or wrong but to make them think about the difficult choices made by the characters.
Karan believes that Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was designed to make viewers think about their own relationships and connect with its characters, whether they ultimately loved or disliked the film. Interestingly, he noted that some people who could not understand or relate to the story 20 years ago may now see it differently because life and relationships have changed their perspective. He also reflected on how people often want simple answers to complicated relationship problems. Karan suggested that looking at relationships through a more nuanced “grey” perspective may help people understand themselves and their emotions better.
Here is Karan Johar’s post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Db2_byKiCGH
Karan Johar ended his anniversary note by expressing gratitude toward the film’s cast and crew, crediting their passion and dedication for helping bring Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna to life. With #20YearsOfKANK, Karan Johar’s reflection has once again brought the much-discussed film back into the spotlight.
