Jun 13, 2026 12:30pm IST
Saif Ali Khan On 25 Years Of ‘Dil Chahta Hai’: ‘It Felt Like Farhan Was Born To Direct’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“Dil Chahta Hai” completes 25 years in August 2026. The Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna film was directed by Farhan Akhtar. A cult film known for its style of storytelling, DCH was considered ahead of its time. The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to Khan’s quirky hairstyle and scenic locales in Goa became a signature template for many films in the early 2000s.
As the film approaches its 25th anniversary, Saif Ali Khan looks back at the Farhan Akhtar-directed classic with fond memories of a shoot defined by friendship, laughter and a filmmaking approach that was first of its kind.
Reflecting on the making of the 2001 coming-of-age drama, in an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Khan describes the experience as one of the most enjoyable in his career.
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“Making Dil Chahta Hai was a lot of fun. It was insane. I think it was the most fun because it was Goa, and we were very young,” he says. Much of the film was shot in Goa, where the cast balanced long shooting schedules with an infectious sense of camaraderie.“We shot on the beach and we partied as well. I remember we tried almost every restaurant in Goa. And because we were all so young, we had the energy to eat, drink, party and then come back for a shoot,” he recalls.
Beyond the memorable locations and youthful energy, Khan credits the film’s crew for introducing a level of professionalism that was uncommon in Bollywood at the time. He singles out director Zoya Akhtar, who worked as an assistant director on the film, and the production team for their efficiency.
“I think it was the first time we had seen such efficient ADs. They estimated a 105-day shoot after reading the script, and we wrapped on the 105th day,” he says. According to the "Omkara" actor, the team’s discipline extended beyond scheduling. He remembered being asked to leave filming locations cleaner than they found them.
“We finished shooting on the beach and they said, ‘Everyone, just pick up a bit of litter, please. Let’s leave the beach cleaner than we found it.’ And we did. We basically cleaned it more from even before we got there,” he shares. The actor believes the production helped usher in a new way of working in Hindi cinema.“They were unbelievable. They changed the culture of how films are made. I mean, forget films, but how they made behind the scenes was so different,” he says.
Khan also credits Farhan Akhtar’s calm leadership for creating a relaxed atmosphere on set.“We were laughing most of the time because Farhan wore it all very lightly. It was like he was born to direct, with the ease with which he was on a set,” he says.
The director’s approach meant there was little stress during filming, provided the actors came prepared.“There was no tension, really. We were just told to know our lines. No figuring it out once you get there. Just learn your lines and then the rest was great fun,” Khan says. The actor also reflects on one of the film’s most enduring style legacies - the iconic haircut sported by his character Sameer, which became a nationwide trend after the film’s release.
Khan notes that even the hair and makeup process felt unlike anything Bollywood productions were doing at the time. He praises hairstylist Avan Contractor and her team, as well as makeup artist Tanuja, for creating a streamlined, collaborative environment. “In the morning, you would come and sit in the same room, have a coffee and get into your makeup chair in one large room where three or four of the main actors would sit,” he recalls. “So the whole process was apparently very international and kind of incredible.”
Nearly 25 years later, “Dil Chahta Hai” remains one of Hindi cinema’s defining films not only for its influence on storytelling and youth culture, but also for the modern filmmaking practices that helped shape its creation.
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