Actor Rani Mukerji, who is currently in Goa for the 54th International Film Festival of India, attended a masterclass and discussed the impact of the film Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna on Indian marriages. Rani revealed that the film unveiled uncomfortable truths about Indian marriages, leading to an increase in the divorce rate.
According to Rani, the film was an eye-opener: “I think what happened with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna was that, after the film (was released), there were a lot of divorces. There were a lot of people going to the theatre and watching the film in extreme discomfort. And I think that is the feedback Karan got for his film, and I think it opened eyes for a lot of people and they took the decision of being happy.”
Discussing her character Maya, Rani said, “What is beautiful about Maya’s character is that she loved Rishi in a different capacity and as a friend. What she found in Shah Rukh’s character was the romance she was always looking for.”
Rani emphasized the importance of a woman’s wants and her choices, stating, “It is very important to talk about a woman’s wants and her choices. Just because the husband doesn’t beat you, it does not mean that he is good in bed or you are in love with him. A women is never allowed or asked, ‘Are you attracted to this man?’”
Rani also praised Karan Johar for being bold enough to make a film like Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna at a time when he wasn’t sure about its reception. She believes that it is important to support strong films and strong roles that challenge the norms of Indian cinema.
Karan had opened up about a disagreement with Aditya Chopra regarding a scene in which characters commit adultery. Despite disagreements, Karan insisted on including the scene in the film. Later, he realized that it might have been better commercially to avoid it, thinking the audience would have been more receptive to the love story without the intimate scenes. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna was released in 2006 and also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, and Anupam Kher, among others.
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