Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai Re-Release: It’s been 25 years since the iconic film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai Hai hit theaters, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences. The movie, which marked the debut of Ameesha Patel and Hrithik Roshan, was a game-changer in every sense. The actors’ on-screen chemistry was pure magic, making their debut performances truly unforgettable. As they effortlessly brought their characters to life, it was clear that Ameesha and Hrithik were destined for stardom. And, as fate would have it, their performances earned them instant recognition.
A Film That Became A Cultural Phenomenon
As the film gears up for its re-release on January 10, 2025, Ameesha takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the film’s unforgettable magic and its lasting impact on her life, as well as that of the film’s fans. “Films very rarely become cults, but I was very lucky to have several cults in my career, including Gadar and Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. But we never attempted to do anything that would make people copy us,” she shares in an exclusive conversation with News24.
She adds, “Of course, that was not the time when people would make reels. There was no social media back then. But everywhere Hrithik and I went, independently or together, girls were dressed as Sonia, wearing that pink skirt and white top I wore on the island. Men would wear Hrithik’s black transparent ganji from Ek Pal Ka Jeena with the bandanna. And that word ‘raptaa’ became so famous that everyone would ask us to enact it for them. They were so fascinated by it, as they had never heard it before. That hook step of Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai is still so popular today. It feels great.”
The Crazy Fans Following
While there was a lot of love being showered on them, a lot of things happened for which neither Ameesha nor Hrithik were prepared. There were crazy fans who went all out to show their love for the actors. “Both Hrithik and I received marriage proposals from fans. They would marry our pictures in temples. I got letters written in blood, professing their love. It was very scary. I had stalkers… people following us. There was no culture of having plenty of bodyguards back then. It all came much later. Before we knew it, we had a whole entourage with us.”
It took time for Ameesha to get used to the new reality. She could no longer enter restaurants or salons carefree. “It was weird at first because we were habitual of just walking alone wherever and whenever. But now we needed to be shielded, protected. We needed to get used to people coming to us, wanting our autographs and pictures. People were dying to just touch us to feel that we were real. They catapulted us to a god-like status, and it’s difficult to digest even today. Even today, we feel like we’re just human beings, but the adulation we received was overwhelming,” she shares.
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But did that ever lead to her feeling so overwhelmed that she thought of running away from the limelight? Ameesha shares that the thought crossed her mind many times in these 25 years, when she wished for a quieter and calmer life. “I wished for a life where I could go anywhere unrecognized. But that happened very rarely, and it’s nothing compared to what I got in return.”
She goes on to share times when people loved her so much that it was hard to believe. “It’s overwhelming that they get impacted by us so much that they remember our character names over our actual names. I know people still call me Sonia wherever I go, even after all these years. Even after Gadar’s release, I had people calling me from Pakistan, telling me that Sakeena ne hume itna rulaaya ki humne apne potiyon (granddaughters) ka naam Sakeena rakh dia. People named their children Hrithik, Ameesha. It was unbelievable.”
Ameesha says that’s what she loves about her profession – it’s the only field, besides cricket, where there are billions across the world who know her, whom she has touched with her performances. “I have spread smiles, touched the chords of their hearts, but have never met them.”
Excited To Watch The Film Again
When asked if she plans to watch Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai in theaters, she tells us excitedly, “The time it released, I could not watch it more than two times because I was so busy working on six to eight projects. So this time, I will definitely go and watch it multiple times. And then there’s a whole host of my friends and family who did not have a chance to watch.”
Watch The Trailer Here:
