‘Dil Chahta Hai’ at 25: Aamir, Saif, Farhan reunite as Akshaye misses out
Twenty-five years after Dil Chahta Hai changed the way friendship was portrayed in Hindi cinema, the film’s team reunited in Mumbai — but one of its three central stars was missing. Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and director Farhan Akhtar came together on Friday to mark the silver jubilee of the 2001 cult classic. Dimple Kapadia, Sonali Kulkarni and producer Ritesh Sidhwani were also among those who…
Twenty-five years after the release of Dil Chahta Hai, the film's original cast reunited in Mumbai to celebrate its silver jubilee. The classic from 2001, directed by Farhan Akhtar, featured Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna as their central characters. However, Khanna was notably absent from the gathering, prompting speculation among fans.
Reunion host Nikhil Taneja later revealed that Khanna had fallen ill and was unable to make it to Mumbai. Preity Zinta, another leading actress in the film, was also absent as she was in Paris at the time. The film, which marked Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut, follows the lives of three friends - Akash (Aamir), Sameer (Saif) and Siddharth 'Sid' Sinha (Khanna) - as they navigate love, friendship and adulthood.
Released on August 10, 2001, the film's Goa sequence, contemporary dialogue and memorable soundtrack contributed to its enduring appeal. While the film was a commercial success, collecting Rs 38 crore worldwide, it later gained a cult following, especially among younger audiences. The film's music, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, has also become part of popular culture.
As the anniversary approaches, fans are left wishing for the presence of Sid, the introspective character that Khanna portrayed.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
