Nikkhil Advani made his directorial debut with the romantic drama “Kal Ho Naa Ho,” produced by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan.
The poignant love triangle garnered two National Film Awards and has attained cult status over time.
Initially, Karan Johar’s preferred choice for the film wasn’t Preity Zinta, but Kareena Kapoor Khan, his collaborator from the 2001 family drama “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.” However, Kareena demanded the same pay as Shah Rukh Khan, which disappointed Karan, leading to a fallout where he refused to work with her and didn’t communicate for 18 months, until his father Yash Johar’s demise due to cancer.
In his autobiography “The Unsuitable Boy,” Karan Johar recounted the incident, expressing his hurt over Kareena’s salary demand, leading to Preity Zinta being cast instead. The rift between Kareena and Karan lasted nearly a year.
During Yash Johar’s cancer treatment in New York in 2003, Kareena attempted to reconcile with Karan, but it wasn’t until Yash’s passing in June 2004 that they finally patched things up. Kareena flew from Bangkok upon hearing the news, visited Karan’s home, and they spent the entire night conversing and resolving their differences.
