Farhan Akhtar on 25 Years of ‘Dil Chahta Hai’: ‘It Happened at the Right Time’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Twenty-five years after its release, “Dil Chahta Hai” remains a defining film about friendship, growing up and finding your place in the world. Farhan Akhtar made his directorial debut with the film, starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna, along with Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Akhtar looks back at the film’s journey, the impact it had on audiences and the memories that have stayed with him.

Does it surprise you that ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ is remembered prominently even today?

Twenty-five years later, I am not surprised by it. I felt that five, six or seven years after the film released, maybe 10 at the most. By then, it was clear that this film had reached people’s hearts in a certain way. That it was there to stay for a while. So, I’m grateful, but I don’t think I’m surprised.

When the film was released, it took people some time to warm up to it because they had never seen anything like it. Do you remember that?

Yes, I do. There was a word-of-mouth factor that played a big part in its success. Because I think for the longest time, people were wondering, yeh kahani jaa kahan rahi hai (where is this story going?). There was no major conflict. There was no drama right up until the interval. The characters were just enjoying the camaraderie. We were so conditioned to some kind of a hook or some kind of a dramatic element that we would be thinking what’s going to happen next or where is the story leading to? It took a while for people to settle into that experience.

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In hindsight, do you think you, the ones who played those three characters - Akash Malhotra (Aamir Khan), Sameer Mulchandani (Saif Ali Khan) and Siddharth Sinha (Akshaye Khanna) - were the perfect ones?

Yes! I cannot imagine it any other way. I think it was destined to be them. I also feel that an actor comes on board when they believe that this is me and that this part can only be played by me. It just seems written for them when they hear it. And that is what happened with all three of them. The role has to resonate with the actor, and the actor has to resonate with the role. It has to be both.

If you could make the film again, would you cast yourself?

No, I mean, it would not be possible to have the same cast today. I’ve been asked a lot about a sequel to “Dil Chahta Hai” too. But I never felt like going back to doing a sequel to it because it was just the right time, not just in my life or their lives, but also where movies were at. I feel that it happened at the right time, and I feel blessed to have been there when it happened.

There are two characters in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ that stood out. One is Goa and the other is Dimple Kapadia as Tara. How do you look back at it?

Goa was just such a part and parcel of all our lives at that time. I do realize that it created a want to experience that feeling after people saw the film. Yes, everyone wanted to go to Goa. The same happened with “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara.” When I went there (to Goa), maybe a couple of years ago, people often referred to Chapora Fort as the “Dil Chahta Hai” Fort. That scene (where Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna are sitting and talking at the fort against the backdrop of the sea) is so poignant in the film. I almost feel like friends go there to take a picture because they know that’s something worth having when they move on in their lives and start doing different things—a touchstone of their friendship. 

And Dimple as the mysterious Tara?

She had a strong part. If you think about it, the entire conflict of the film is about her and surrounding her character. She was amazing. When I was writing the script, it was impossible to get Dimple out of my mind. She was one of the first people that I spoke to. I didn’t have any other name in my mind when I was writing Tara. She’s gorgeous, very chilled out, and doesn’t take herself seriously at all. That was really important for that part. 

The film has resonated with every generation. Would you say it is your best work to date as a director?

I would say it’s probably my most special work. It’s difficult to say that it’s the best because as a director, I have had an amazing creative time making everything that I’ve made.

You began your career as a director; why is it taking so long to return to direction?

We all know what happened… Sometimes life conspires in ways that you really have no answers for. The fact of the matter is, for four and a half years, I’ve been waiting for actors to make a film. I feel tremendously let down and disappointed.