1. Javed Akhtar had nothing to do with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai(KKHH). He was supposed to write the lyrics. But he found the title vulgar and opted out. Sameer Anjaan wrote the lyrics.Later when KKHH became a historic hit I asked Javed Saab if he regretted quitting the project. The answer was a firm no.
2. While Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol were locked in from the start for Anjali and Rahul, the character of the campus hottie Tina was written for Karan Johar’s buddy Twinkle Khanna, who was not interested. The role was then offered to Raveena Tandon who said no to what was clearly the second lead. Finally a virtual newcomer named Rani Mukerjee was signed to play Tina. The film made her an overnight star.
3. No A-lister wanted to play the role of Kajol’s fiance that Salman Khan eventually did. Karan Johar told me he even went to Chandrachur Singh and Mukul Dev who refused. Karan was in the throes of despair when he met Salman at a party. Salman offered to do the role. ‘Because I know no one will do it,’ Bhai drawled. Salman never worked with either Karan Johar or Kajol after this.
4. An animation version of KKHH called Coochie Coochie Hota Hai with the human characters replaced by canines was directed by Tarun Mansukhani but never got released. Karan explained to me that animation films don’t work in India , and also, no one wanted to see Shah Rukh, Kajol and Salman as dogs.
5. Karan Johar enjoyed making Kuch Kuch Hota Hai much more than his second blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham because…well over to Karan: “When Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released I was this fat 95-kilo brat who was pampered by the audience and critics. When K3G came along I had lost 25 kgs but gained a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.” Some day Karan hopes to convince Javed Akhtar that Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham is a more suggestive title than Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
