20 Years Of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham': Lesser-Known Facts About Karan Johar's Best Family Saga

From Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan's cameo to Abhishek Bachchan's deleted scene, and KJo getting sued, here are 20 rare facts about the iconic film.

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By Kalash Khurana Last Updated:

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20 Years Of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham': Lesser-Known Facts About Karan Johar's Best Family Saga

Released on December 14, 2001, the iconic film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, has completed 20 years. And, even after two decades, it remains one of the favourite family movies through generations. K3G was a complete package that not only boasts a glamorous star cast but also offers an emotional roller-coaster ride that appeals to all age groups. The songs, locations, dialogues, performances, cast, climax, and everything else about this movie is so iconic that we can never get enough of it! Indeed, the film, K3G, was a perfect combination of drama, emotions, and love.

The film was a multi-starrer, which was graced by stellar actors, including Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Rani Mukerji, too, had played a pivotal role in the film. Even after 20 years since Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham came out, it is still one of the most iconic films that Karan Johar has ever made. So, let's take a trip down the memory lane and find out 20 lesser-known facts that will make a die-hard K3G fan nostalgic.

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#1. The secret behind the film title

K3G

Do you also wonder why there is an extra 'e' in the second Kabhi in the title of the film? Well, there is an interesting reason behind keeping the title as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham instead of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. Film director, Karan Johar had deliberately kept the title like that due to numerological reasons.

#2. K3G was inspired by this film

K3G

The inspiration behind the movie, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, had come from Yash Chopra’s film, Kabhi Kabhie which was released in 1976. On being inspired by the classic, Karan Johar on the Audible Suno’s show, Picture Ke Peeche, had said:

"What appealed to me was the fact that the love story stressed out across generations. It begins with youth and went on as people grew older."

#3. KJo took inspiration for the characters from his own family 

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K3G

The director of the cult film, Karan Johar, had drawn inspiration for this family drama from his own family. KJo had observed his family members and had decided to make a film with characters that would resemble his family members' personalities. In fact, the character of 'Yashwardhan Raichand', played by Amitabh Bachchan in the film, was inspired by Karan's father, late Yash Johar. Moreover, 'Yash Raichand' and Yash Johar shared the same birthday i.e., September 6.

#4. Waheeda Rehman's husband's sudden demise lead her to leave the film in between

K3G

Waheeda Rehman and Amitabh Bachchan's bonding on the silver screen was loved by their fans in films like Trishul and Namak Halal. Thus, the makers of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham had initially chosen Waheeda for the role of Amitabh's mother in the film. The movie would have marked her comeback after ten years, but the veteran actress had to quit the film after shooting a few scenes because of the sad news of her husband's sudden demise. 

#5. Jugal Hansraj's cameo 

K3G

As a matter of fact, Karan Johar had considered Jugal Hansraj as his 'lucky mascot', thus the former had asked him to make an appearance in the movie. Jugal Hansraj had featured in the film as Hrithik Roshan's roommate, but eventually, KJo had deleted the scene from the final cut. 

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#6. The comeback of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan as a couple after 20 years

K3G

Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan had appeared together for the first time in 20 years in the movie, K3G. Before that, the last movie they had done together was Silsila in 1981. Earlier, the two had graced the silver screen together in films like Chupke Chupke (1972) and Abhimaan (1973). 

#7. You're My Sonia song

K3G

We still can't resist tapping our feet to the iconic song of the film, You Are My Sonia, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The duo's sizzling chemistry in the song had received a lot of appreciation and love from the audience. However, the original script even had Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol's sequence in the song to add some extra jazz. But unfortunately, the scene had got edited out later.

#8. Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan's special appearance

K3G

Undoubtedly, the star kids easily get an opportunity of making their first appearances in movies, owing to their celebrity status. The same is the case with Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan, who played the role of his father, Shah Rukh, as a child in the opening scenes of K3G.

#9. John Abraham missed his chance of being a part of the iconic film

K3G

John Abraham had to wait for some time before he could make his mark in Bollywood industry. However, when he was new in the industry, he was offered the role of 'Poo's college friend and stalker, 'Robbie'. However, John had declined it and thus, had missed his chance of being a part of the iconic family saga.

#10. Ramona Sunavala was a part of the film

K3G

You might remember the musketeers, who hovered around Kareena's character 'Poo' in her college. Well, that role was portrayed by Ramona Sunavala. She had joined showbiz at the right time with the right movie and went on to become very successful. Ramona is now a popular VJ on MTV, as well as a singer and a host. 

#11. Abhishek Bachchan was in the original script

K3G

When talking about a family drama starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, it would have been great if their son, Abhishek Bachchan, could also be a part of the film. However, not many people know that Abhishek had also shot a cameo in the film. He had shared the frame with Kareena Kapoor Khan, and in the scene, he had to decline her offer to accompany her to the prom. But, the scene was deleted during editing.

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#12. Deewana Hai Dekho song

K3G

Karan Johar had managed to shoot a sequence for the song, Deewana Hai Dekho at the British Museum in London. Since the venue was always flooded with visitors, it had become extremely difficult to secure it. However, because of Hrithik's stellar dancing skills, they were able to complete the shoot on time.

#13. Suraj Hua Maddham song

K3G

Amongst the most romantic songs that have remained with us through all these years, Suraj Hua Maddham, tops the chart. However, the song almost didn't make it into the movie, K3G. Composer, Sandesh Shandilya had wanted to make a full album instead of being a guest composer for a film. But, Karan Johar had requested him and had told him that he wanted the song to be in the film. Finally, Shandilya had let KJo have the composition, and we're glad that he did that!

#14. Kajol got injured while shooting for the song

K3G

One of the sequence scenes of the song, Suraj Hua Maddham, was shot with the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt. During the shoot, Kajol had a bad fall and had injured herself. Moreover, due to the lighting conditions, the shooting could only take place between 7 am to 9 am, and thus, it had taken days to complete the shoot of the song.

#15. KJo fainted during the shoot of Bole Chudiyan

K3G

Karan Johar was so stressed during the shooting of the song, Bole Chudiyan, that he had fainted on the sets due to dehydration. He had eventually ended up giving instructions on his walkie-talkie from a bed for the day.

#16. Aati Kya Khandala song

K3G

Almost every millennial has at some point in their lives vibed to the song, Aati Kya Khandala. And, though the song is associated with Aamir Khan, not many people know that it was first used in the film, K3G. In the film, Amitabh could be seen singing the song, Aati Kya Khandala, at his birthday party, and the scene was set in 1991. But, originally K3G was released in 2001, so they used Aamir Khan’s film, Ghulam's song in it.

#17. Johny Lever and his son played the role of father-son in the film

K3G

Every film has some real-life actor duo, who play their characters in reel-life as well in a movie. Similarly, in the film, K3G, Johny Lever and his son, Jesse Lever, played the role of a father-son duo as well. However, this fact had gone unnoticed by the movie buffs as well. 

#18. Kajol faced difficulty playing her character

K3G

Kajol had swooned millions of hearts with her stellar performance in the film, and her character of a Punjaban had become everyone's favourite back then. However, not many people are aware of the truth that Kajol had found it extremely difficult to learn the Punjabi dialogues in the film. Moreover, Shah Rukh Khan would annoy her on the sets by rattling off the Punjabi dialogues in front of her.

#19. Karan Johar was sued

K3G

We all remember Kareena Kapoor Khan's character, 'Poo', from the movie, and you will agree that the song, It's Raining Men playing in the background of the scene where she had made her entry had complemented her personality. However, the song was used in the film without getting prior permission from the rightful owners, and Karan Johar was sued for the same and had to pay a fine. 

#20. First Indian film to have a book published on its making

K3G

One of the most iconic films of all time, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, didn't only receive a lot of appreciation and love from the audience but also became the favourite family saga. Moreover, the film got so popular that it had become one of the first Indian films that had a book published on its making. 

What's your favourite memory from the film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham? Please let us know in the comments.

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