Revisiting magic of Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan Starrer Kal Ho Na on Release Anniversary

Time Flies! Bollywood’s romantic melodrama is still resonated with the youth because of the refreshing themes and the stellar cast. The trio, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan is loved by fans all over the world even after two decades of its release on November 28. Directed by Nikhil Advani, the story was helmed by acclaimed director-producer Karan Johar. Not only the distinctive story but the iconic songs secured a position in the hearts of fans and captivated a global fan base.

As the film clocks twenty years, let us revisit some of the life lessons penned in this romantic, tear-jerking dramedy.

Live in the present

As the name suggests, Kal Ho Na Ho (You may or may not be there tomorrow) truly represents the theme of the movie. It beautifully signifies to cherish the present as you might not be there tomorrow. Hence, it is quintessential to value the moments the present holds and the people who make our lives worth living. Life is mortal but we can make the moments immortal!

In the movie context, we see Aman (played by SRK) living life to the fullest even though he has only a few weeks to live as he battles a heart condition.

Friendship

Life seems less monotonous when you have friends! The movie also symbolizes friendship touchingly. Be it Aman-Priya (played by Sonali Bendre) or Rohit-Naina (played by Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta), the circle of friendship portrays the strengths and weaknesses we can share with our chosen family and how it makes a difference in life.

Past/Present Traumas

Kal Ho Na Ho also signifies that never let your past ruin your future. In the movie, we see a disgruntled and unhappy Naina Kapur who is still reeling from the sudden death of her father. Aman Mathur transforms her unhappy life with the true joy of living in the present. He helped her to get closure after he unveiled the secret behind her father’s suicide. He also untangles the bitter relationship between a mother-in-law (Naina’s granny) and her daughter-in-law (Naina’s mother, played by Jaya Bachchan).

Embrace your uniqueness

In the first half, we witness the financial troubles the Kapur family is going through, due to their business failure. However, it was Aman, who made them realize that the true power lies in uniqueness and not repetition. For the unversed, the Kapur Family used to run their restaurant with New York City’s food menu, but after Aman urged them to embrace their Indian roots, they switched from foreign food to Indian food, thus immediately enhancing their business and money.

True Love

True love doesn't necessarily walk into your life suddenly. The movie makes us believe that “friendship is love.” Although we loved Naina and Aman’s chemistry, one cannot deny the aw-dorable chemistry between two best friends Rohit Patel and Naina Kapur. They fought, they made jokes, but in the end, they held onto each other through thick and thin. Their true love is also witnessed after the age leap in the movie when the middle-aged Naina narrates her tale to her half-sister, her husband Rohit embraces her and makes us believe that friendship turning into love is out of the world!

Letting go

Sometimes holding onto something is painful than letting go. It is essential to realize and let go of things before they become the rusty chains of the past ruining the present. In the film, we meet a depressed, unhappy girl Naina who is burdened by the troubles in her family and partly blames her but the arrival of the next-door neighbor, Aman Mathur makes her reflect on life. He says, ““haso, jiyo, muskurao, kya pata kal ho naa ho!” (laugh, live, smile because tomorrow might not come).

Some of such iconic dialogues and the charisma of characters are still etched in the memories of Kal Ho Na Ho fans. You can relive your memories but get your tissue ready before you embark on this bittersweet journey.

The movie is currently streaming on Netflix