Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukherji, along with Salman Khan in an extended special appearance. It also features Sana Saeed in a supporting role. The plot combines two love triangles set years apart. The first half covers friends on a college campus, while the second tells the story of a widower’s young daughter who tries to reunite her dad with his old best friend.

Filmed in India, Mauritius and Scotland, this was Johar’s directorial debut. One of his goals for the film was to set a new level for style in Hindi cinema. The music was composed by Jatin–Lalit, which was the biggest seller of the year. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was released on 16 October 1998, worldwide and received positive reviews from critics who praised the setting, music, direction, cinematography, screenplay, performances and overall presentation. The film was successful in India and abroad, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of the year and the third highest-grossing Indian film at that time. Outside India, the film was the highest-grossing Hindi film ever until its record was broken by Karan Johar’s next directorial, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001).

The film received various accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Film at the Filmfare Awards, Screen Awards, Zee Cine Awards and Bollywood Movie Awards. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai won 8 Filmfare Awards and was the only film to win all four acting awards (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress) until Gully Boy (2019).

Rahul and Anjali used to spend most of their time together, until the arrival of Tina Malhotra. Tina is the pretty daughter of the principal, and Rahul is immediately smitten. Soon, the two start going out. Anjali, secretly in love with Rahul, is devastated at this turn of events. She decides to leave college, and though she and Rahul bid farewell to each other, they fail to keep in touch in the following years.

Tina feels guilty at having come in the way of Anjali’s love for Rahul. Nevertheless, she and Rahul get married, and are about to become parents as Tina is pregnant. Complications arise in her pregnancy and she starts bleeding internally. Left with little time to live, Tina writes eight letters to her newborn daughter, asking that each be given to her on her birthday, so that she might know the story of her mother. Tina dies and Rahul names their daughter Anjali, after Tina’s last wish.

Over the next eight years, Anjali Khanna grows up under the care of Rahul, who never re-marries. On her eighth birthday, she reads her mother’s final letter to her, which details the story of Rahul’s friendship with the other Anjali (Sharma). In the letter, Tina asks her daughter to reunite Rahul with Anjali Sharma, believing that the two were always meant to be together. Anjali Khanna traces the older Anjali to a summer camp in Shimla, where she is the music and dance instructor. She immediately enrolls and leaves for the camp, against the wishes of her father who is unaware of the letter and of Anjali’s new mission.

At the camp, the two Anjalis meet and bond with each other. Rahul is a protective father and shows up at the camp in Shimla, only to be shocked at seeing Anjali Sharma there, after nearly a decade. The two are initially awkward around each other, but soon end up resuming their old friendship. Rahul starts to realize he feels more than platonic love for Anjali. Before he can do anything, though, Anjali’s fiance, Aman, shows up at the camp. Anjali, who cannot decide between Rahul and Aman, decides to return home mid-way through the camp. She also asks for the wedding to be moved ahead from its original date.

Rahul realizes that he is about to lose Anjali again and is heartbroken. He and his daughter visit Anjali’s residence on the eve of the wedding. Finding Anjali alone in an upstairs room, Rahul professes his love for her, even though she is about to be married. Anjali, who had never forgotten her crush on Rahul, falters at the wedding altar. Aman knows that Rahul was Anjali’s first love, and that she still feels strongly for him. He decides to step down as the groom, allowing Rahul and Anjali to get married in the same ceremony. As the festivities take place, Anjali Khanna feels content at having fulfilled her mother’s last wish from her letter.