I recently rewatched Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa on Netflix and I love this film a lot. I get why SRK calls it one of his best – his character Sunil feels so real, flawed and relatable. We all adore Main Hoon Na, Kal Ho Naa Ho and his other classics, but this one is an underrated gem that deserves more talk.
Sunil isn't a saintly hero who sacrifices everything; he's just like any of us – head over heels, making some pretty bad choices to win the girl. What makes the movie shine is that he owns up to his mistakes. He isn't let off the hook because he's the hero; he has to face the consequences and the guilt.
The best part, in my opinion, is the ending. It's bold for its time – the female lead doesn't end up with the hero, she stays with the other guy, and the hero isn't dying either.
The film shows what Bollywood often skips: real love isn't always a happy ending, sometimes it's about letting go because "your picture is still left to be made, my friend!"
And the songs – total chef's kiss! If you're not humming "Anna Mera Pyaara Ko Na Tum Jhoota Samajho" or "Dil Deewana", something's missing.
So if you're looking for an SRK movie and aren't sure which one, this is the answer.
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This film is my youth's anthem – the last hangout with my high‑school friends right after finishing 12th grade. It will always have a special place in my heart: one for the movie itself and another for the memories.
It's one of my favourite SRK movies.
I haven't seen it yet, but I'll give it a watch soon.
The movie works on many levels – the friendship angle, the don angle, and, which I only noticed later, the father‑son angle. It handles that relationship with nuance and depth, far from the cardboard‑cutout portrayals we often see. The only comparable films I can think of are Gardish and Socha Na Tha, when you compare the layers, not just the intensity.
There were older films that followed a similar playbook. Gharonda comes to mind – the hero's schemes backfire and he loses the girl in the end. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa's climax is unusual for its era, challenging the usual "everything's fair" mantra. Kundan Shah's earlier work Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron also left its well‑meaning heroes in a bind, so the unexpected isn't entirely new here.
The movie feels so relatable. I was in school when it released and have a ton of memories attached to it. Funny thing – I was on a drive, playing Dil Deewana, reached my destination, opened Reddit and the first post I saw was about this film. What a coincidence!
The final scene with Juhi and SRK is my favourite part of the movie.
Pure gem. Any teen who grew up in the 90s will connect with a lot of moments here. I was in 11th grade when it came out, and SRK wasn't the King Khan we all know yet – he was still the guy from the Circus TV serial.
I still listen to the songs. The whole sequence where he lies to his father about passing his degree, gets caught, and then the 'Woh To Hai Albela' song is so wholesome. It shows the strength you get when family stands behind you. So many subtle layers in this film.
Small detail: in the ending the script asked SRK to find the ring and, with a smile and tears, sacrifice it. He refused, saying Sunil wouldn't do that – he can't. He mentioned this in an interview, and that's how the ending plays out.
One of SRK's most natural performances. The underdog who loses everything but wins the audience's love. The producer quit midway, but director Kundan Shah kept going, and the cast pitched in money. SRK asked the Tips company to release the film and promised to repay them. He even sold tickets at Gaiety Galaxy theatre. Later, SRK bought the full rights, repaid everyone, and the film finally got its due.