More than two decades after Kal Ho Naa Ho became one of Bollywood's most-loved films, filmmaker Nikkhil Advani is looking back at one of its most memorable comic tracks with a more critical and evolved perspective. Speaking at the ongoing Kashish Pride Film Festival, he admitted that the iconic ‘Kanta Ben’ sequence from the 2003 blockbuster - once celebrated for its humour - would likely not find a place in his filmmaking today.
"A lot has changed since I made Kal Ho Naa Ho. We are more educated and far more aware now. I don't think I can do a Kanta Ben today," he said. The filmmaker was referring to the recurring comic subplot in which the character Kanta Ben repeatedly misunderstands the relationship between Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan's characters, creating a series of humorous situations that became hugely popular with audiences.
A More Sensitive Approach
While he noted that the sequence was created in the spirit of harmless fun and has even been appreciated by members of the LGBTQ+ community over the years, he believes his own understanding has evolved significantly. "At the time it was great fun, and I've had many people from the community tell me they enjoyed it. But I also believe I've become more sensitive with time," he said.
Nikkhil pointed to his more recent work as an example of how the industry's approach to gender and sexuality is gradually changing. He cited Mumbai Diaries, which featured a storyline involving a young person undergoing gender transition. "When we made Mumbai Diaries, there was a storyline involving a young person who was transitioning. We made a conscious effort to cast someone from the community, and we had an intimacy advisor working with us throughout the process," he explained. According to the filmmaker, such measures are becoming increasingly important as the industry attempts to portray diverse identities with greater authenticity and respect.
Industry Slowly Adapting
Nikkhil acknowledged that much of this shift has been driven by evolving industry practices and global standards, particularly on international streaming platforms. "These are important steps that the industry is beginning to accept. It was an OTT (Amazon) show, and because it was a multinational platform, there were global standards regarding gender identity and other sensitive issues," he said.
However, he was quick to add that progress remains uneven and that Indian cinema still has considerable ground to cover when it comes to meaningful LGBTQ+ representation. "So yes, we are changing. But we still have a long way to go." He added, "What the filmmakers at KASHISH are doing is remarkable. Full marks to them." Highlighting the challenges faced by queer storytellers, he noted, "It's not easy making these films, and it's even harder ensuring that they are seen."
