Fifteen years ago, a nervous, unsure, (overweight) Karan Johar walked onto a film set for the very first time, to direct his first feature film.

Little did he know at the time that his debut film would go on to become a cult classic, would redefine his lead actor’s popularity both within the country and overseas, and would give a generation the definitive triangular love story they had been waiting for!

Karan Johar managed to rope in superstar Shah Rukh Khan to star in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’.

The casting coup was compounded by his pairing with Kajol, a pair that was mega successful after Aditya Chopra’s 1995 blockbuster ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge’. Add to this was the introduction of a fresh face (Kajol’s cousin) Rani Mukherjee in a supporting role, and the film was a hit on paper, even before it began…

TWEET WORTHY:

On the day of the completion of 15 years of the momentous occasion, naturally the film’s cast and crew were nostalgic about their labour of love.

Here’s a look at their tweets for #KuchKuchHotaHai:

Karan Johar, “‏15 years since #KuchKuchHotaHai..the day it all began for me..I can’t thank the universe enough for blessing me with a place in the movies..”

Shah Rukh Khan, “KKHH 15yrs of lov & friendship. Thanx Kajol,Rani,Karan & Tom Uncle for believing in ur son. Also Eid Mubarak…Prayers & Happiness for all”

ROMANCE REWIND:

Just like Karan and Shah Rukh, the 15 year landmark of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ made us equally sentimental and nostalgic too. And so, we bring to you the 15 reasons why ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ came to define a generation of film lovers, and why the film is so relevant, even today…

15. The Music: Koi Mil Gaya.. Kya Karun Haaye, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai! Who can forget Jatin-Lalit’s unforgettable, catchy melodies and Sameer’s clean lyrics.

14. The Humour: ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ was as much a rom com, as it was a soppy family drama. Karan’s irreverence and cheeky humour reared its naughty head in this film, and continues to this day in hilarious comic tracks in his subsequent films, and chat show.

13. Miss Braganza (a-ha!): The middle-aged, over-sexed English teacher who taught her college students about ‘Love’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is an unforgettable Bollywood character.

12. Basketball: Rahul and Anjali, playing yuppie nouveau cool collegians, and their basketball wars. “Khelna nahin aata toh cheating toh mat karo!” “Aye, mujhe cheater mat bulao!” “Rahul is a cheater, he is a cheater!”

11. College Romance: The first of many Bollywood films to deal with college romance and young love, the way it really is.

10. Sana Saeed: Mujhe singing aur dancing ka kitna shauk hai… Admit it, you’re smiling already.

9. Camp instructor ‘Almeda’: Johnny Lever, delightful as always. Special mention to Farida Jalal as the horrified Dadi at camp

8. Kajol’s chiffon saris and Rani Mukherjee’s sexy skirts: While the first half of the film saw Rani Mukherjee hog the limelight in her sexy mini skirts, while Kajol’s wardrobe was that of a boisterous tomboy; in the second half, Kajol’s makeover was stunning. Those chiffon saris, those flowing tresses. Dhak dhak. Dhak dhak.

7. Salman and SRK, Together Again: After ‘Karan Arjun’, the two ruling Khans shared screen space in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. We must admit, we adored Salman Khan as Aman, and felt awful for him when Kajol chooses SRK’s Rahul over him in the climactic sequence!

6. Shah Rukh Khan- The King of ‘Cool’: Gap sweatshirts, Nike track pants, and that ‘COOL’ chain. SRK’s wardrobe in the college milieu spawned so many knock-offs at Mumbai’s Linking Road and Fashion Street…

5. Om Jai Jagadish in Oxford University: London-bred, Oxford-educated Rani singing ‘Om Jai Jagadish’ came as a shock not only to SRK’s character, but had us gaping in awe too!

4. Shah Rukh Khan as a Doting Father: Perhaps for the first time in his career, Shah Rukh played the role of a single father. And a doting, loving, caring, supporting, pampering one at that!

3. Yeh Angle Triangle Hai: Kajol. Shah Rukh. Rani. The chemistry. Uff!

2. SRK- Kajol’s Sizzling Chemistry: The awkward, nervous, more-than-friends, less-than-lovers vibe they shared throughout the film. And that goosebump-inducing rain dance in the cabana.

Never before, never again. (Scroll down for number 1…)

1. Shah Rukh Khan: SRK really carried the film’s weight comfortably on his able shoulders. We couldn’t get enough of Rahul’s arrogance and flamboyance in the first half, and his wounded, widowed- father part in the second act. Add to that, his boyish innocence and dimpled charm. Women, you can stop drooling now.