Nikkhil Advani, renowned for directing the 2003 blockbuster Kal Ho Naa Ho, recently shared his experience of collaborating with producer Karan Johar on the iconic film. Reflecting on their partnership, Nikkhil Advani highlighted that while Karan Johar excelled as an exceptional dialogue writer, his own strengths lay in the technical aspects of filmmaking.
In an interview, Nikkhil Advani addressed a common misconception about the film. “I read somewhere yesterday that Karan Johar’s greatest regret is that he did not direct Kal Ho Naa Ho. But that’s not true because, in my opinion, the script was director-proof. Some writers say that no matter who directs it, the film would have turned out the same. It was all there in the writing,” he explained.
He went on to praise Karan’s talent for capturing emotions through his writing. “Karan is an incredible dialogue writer. The emotions in the second half—the poignancy of Jaya ji’s character, the revelation that Shah Rukh Khan’s character is dying at the interval—were all so powerful. It was director-proof,” Nikkhil reiterated.
Describing his own contribution, Nikkhil Advani spoke about the technical elements he brought to the table. “I was the one focusing on things like split screens, shot breakdowns, and breaking the fourth wall. I can’t recall whether I showed something to Karan or he showed something to me, but we would both agree and say, ‘Fantastic,’” he added, underlining the collaborative spirit that shaped the film.
We will certainly like to see them work together again.
