Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
After working as an assistant director for acclaimed filmmakers Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, Nikkhil Advani began his directorial journey with Kal Ho Naa Ho, starring Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview, Nikkhil shared how Shah Rukh advocated for him with Dharma Productions and how the actor agreed to do Kal Ho Naa Ho without even reading the entire script.
In a conversation with Cyrus Broacha on his YouTube channel, the filmmaker expressed his deep gratitude to Bollywood’s Baadshah, saying, “Shah Rukh went to Yash Johar and said, ‘I will do another film with Dharma Productions only if Nikkhil directs it.’ I owe Shah Rukh a lot — I owe him my entire career as a director.” Nikkhil had previously worked as an assistant director on some of Shah Rukh’s career-defining films, such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Mohabbatein. He also revealed that Shah Rukh always wanted to explore different roles beyond love stories and often discussed this desire with him.
Kal Ho Naa Ho was written by Karan Johar, who entrusted Nikkhil with directing it. Reflecting on Shah Rukh’s reaction to the script, Nikkhil shared, “Shah Rukh read the first page, glanced over the interval point, and then skipped to the last page. He didn’t read the entire script. He simply said, ‘I know Karan has written it, and you’re directing it, so I’m in good hands.’”
In Kal Ho Naa Ho, Shah Rukh played the role of a terminally ill man who falls in love with a woman named Naina, portrayed by Preity Zinta. However, due to his health condition, he cannot reciprocate her feelings and instead becomes a matchmaker between Naina and her friend Rohit Patel, played by Saif Ali Khan. The film was massively successful at the box office and gained critical acclaim.
Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
