Nikkhil Advani reveals Kal Ho Naa Ho cost Rs 32 crore, made the equivalent of thousands of crores in revenue: ‘It gave equity to Dharma’

Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani spoke about the definition of blockbuster transforming from quality stories to huge box office numbers. Read on to know more.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | November 12, 2024 12:05 PM IST

3 min read

Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in a still from Kal Ho Naa Ho.

The past few years have seen a massive evolution in the box office collections of Bollywood films. While the biggest hits have broken the Rs 500 crore and Rs 1000 crore barriers, others struggle to make even Rs 20 crore. Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, who helmed the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kal Ho Naa Ho, pointed out that he isn’t a fan of the definition of a blockbuster in today’s world.

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, he pointed out, “Three or four years ago, the kind of feature films that were being made, there was hope for middle of the road cinema, which has vanished now. Either you made a blockbuster that earns Rs 600-800 crore, otherwise you aren’t doing anything.” However, Nikkhil is hopeful that things will change soon. “I am very hopeful that it will shift back again. I would love to see the ‘Ayushmann Khurrana genre’ of films, they were so good. The definition of a blockbuster today is Rs 800 crore. I am not in a position to not have another definition, it has to be Rs 500 crore-plus,” he said.

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The director revealed the budget of his own film, Kal Ho Naa Ho, highlighting how it is still remembered for its story, cast, and music, and not just its budget and box office collections. “Earlier, we could make a Kal Ho Naa Ho and no one used to care for how much it was made for and how it’s doing. It was made for Rs 32 crore. If you talk in terms of the inflation today, it would have made more than Rs 1000 crore. Understand the equity and soft power Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai have given to YRF and Dharma. It is too huge. One can’t use that concept now, today it’s only about these big numbers,” he added.

Nikkhil also mentioned how he still gets lauded for the film. “People still say, ‘Wow what a film’, or ‘ Why did you kill Shah Rukh Khan in the end?’ For me, what is a blockbuster? It should be memorable 10 years later. People are still talking about that cool chain, Polo sport T-shirt and Rani’s mini skirt. Today, we are only talking about Rs 800 crore!” he said.

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