Over two decades after its release, Nikkhil Advani, the director of the iconic film 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', believes that modern audiences would view the movie through an entirely new perspective. In a recent interview, Advani discussed his 2003 directorial debut, touching upon the film's ending, the beloved chemistry between characters Aman and Rohit, and how younger viewers today engage with its comedy and emotional moments. He even suggested that a potential remake could explore a romantic angle between the characters originally played by Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
Nikkhil Advani Calls SRK and Saif's Dynamic a Bromance That Hasn't Aged Well
Speaking with Mid-day, Advani described the bond between Shah Rukh Khan's Aman and Saif Ali Khan's Rohit as a classic bromance at its core. However, he was candid about certain elements of the film that have not aged gracefully, particularly the recurring gag built around Kantaben's homophobic suspicions about the two men. This subplot, he noted, now makes some viewers uneasy, including his own daughter, whose reaction highlighted how significantly public discourse around sexuality, representation, and comedy has shifted since the film first hit screens. Advani stated, "It was a bromance."
Nikkhil Advani Says the Real Ending of the Film Was Never About the Girl
Advani also shared that, emotionally, the film's true climax for him had nothing to do with the love story on the surface. It was the moment Aman and Rohit struck their private agreement that felt like the real ending, even as Naina, portrayed by Preity Zinta, remained a pivotal figure throughout. Interestingly, he pointed out that this scene now draws a different reaction from female viewers, who question Naina's place in that moment. As Advani put it, "The film ended for me when Aman and Rohit made a pact with each other. That pact involved a woman, and that woman was standing outside in the corridor and today most girls wonder why the hell was she standing outside when those two are talking the whole shit."
Nikkhil Advani Open to Exploring a Romantic Angle Between Aman and Rohit in a Remake
Advani was candid about the fact that the kind of emotional payoff 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' delivered would be a tough sell for today's audiences. In his words, "I will never be able to get away with that kind of ending of Kal Ho Naa Ho ever again." But rather than seeing that as a limitation, the director appeared open to what a fresh reimagining could unlock—specifically, the possibility of giving the Aman-Rohit relationship a more explicitly romantic dimension. He said, "If we were to remake Kal Ho Naa Ho today, it would be interesting to explore that."
About 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', Nikkhil Advani's Debut Directorial
'Kal Ho Naa Ho' was released in 2003 and marked Nikkhil Advani's debut as a director. The film was produced by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions and starred Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Preity Zinta in lead roles, with supporting performances from Jaya Bachchan, Sushma Seth, Reema Lagoo, Delnaaz Irani, and Lillete Dubey. The story centers on Naina, who falls for Aman, who is suffering from a terminal illness, while her friend Rohit secretly has feelings for her. The film was among the biggest hits of that year and remains one of the most popular and beloved romantic films in Bollywood.
