Farhan Akhtar reveals he would change Dil Chahta Hai climax: ‘Akshaye Khanna should be alone’

Twenty-five years ago, a generation discovered Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai. The film's fresh aesthetic, sharp writing, and distinctive visual language not only transformed Hindi cinema but also offered a new perspective on adult relationships. As the film marked its 25th anniversary, Farhan spoke to The Hollywood Reporter India about what he might alter if he were directing the movie today.

He admitted that there are certain moments he now views differently with the benefit of time. One significant change, according to Farhan, would be to resolve the Aamir and Preity's relationship differently from the way he initially constructed it. While the drama of that moment is effective, he believes it stands out a little bit due to its overplayed nature.

He thinks the wedding scene's drama was pitched too high compared to the rest of the film. Moreover, Farhan felt he might have been better off leaving Sid, played by Akshaye Khanna, without a hint of a romantic resolution. In the film's final moments, Sid is shown with another woman after the passing of Tara (Dimple Kapadia). Looking back, Farhan believes the character did not necessarily need that hint of a conventional happy ending.

He thinks Sid was content regardless, so there was no need to present a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow.