Latest news with #MujhseDostiKaroge
India.com
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Vivek Oberoi, role went to..., film became a hit, actor won a National Award, film is...
Do you remember Saif Ali Khan's iconic 2004 film Hum Tum featuring Rani Mukerji in the lead role? The film proved to be a huge box office success for the producers. Today, we will tell you interesting facts about Hum Tum. You will be surprised to know that Saif Ali Khan was not the first choice for Hum Tum. Yes, you read it correctly, the actor who played the role nearly perfectly was not even the second or the third option for the makers. In an inter, Hum Tum director Kunal Kohli revealed interesting details about his iconic film. During the early 2000s, Saif Ali Khan had a tough time getting a break. The actor was yet to deliver a solo hit and make his name in the industry. It turns out that the film, Hum Tum, was crafted according to his needs. However, Saif was not even on the preferred list of actors. While Saif made his stardom grow with Hum Tum, the script was first offered to Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, and then Vivek Oberoi. The director of this film revealed that all three actors had some other reason to reject Hum Tum. Kunal Kohli further revealed that Hrithik was the first choice for the film. Hrithik Roshan was the first choice for Hum Tum During a conversation with Radio Nasha, Hum Tum director revealed that he first called Hrithik to offer Hum Tum, since the two had previously collaborated in 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge', which was backed by Yash Raj Films. Kunal revealed that Hrithik Roshan loved the script but wasn't confident enough to do the film, since he was yet to make a mark in Bollywood after giving back-to-back flops. The actor accepted his fate and realised that many of his upcoming films won't do business, since it was a bad time for him. Aamir Khan rejected the film as well After HRK rejected Hum Tum, Kunal Kohli's second choice was Aamir Khan. During this time, Aamir was heading for a divorce from his first wife, Reena Dutta. It is believed that Aamir Khan was not even interested in the script and ignored it. Since he was going through a tough period, Aamir Khan refused to read the script, due to his mental state, dealing with this personal relationship. He said, 'Friend, I am not in such a mental state that I can even listen to the script, so I will not even listen to it.' Vivek Oberoi was offered Hum Tum, but… After two top actors rejected that film, Kunal Kohli's third choice was none other than Vive Oberoi, initially the actor gave the dates but late refrained to the film since he wanted to make slight changes in the script, and then the two never talked about it. Now that the three top actors rejected doing Hum Tum, it was Aditya Chopra's suggestion to rope in Saif Ali Khan for the lead role in Hum Tum. Kunal said, 'I immediately visualised him (Saif Ali Khan) in every scene of the film, and I felt that he would look great in it. Saif had not done any solo hero hit film till that time. But Aditya Chopra said, 'I am completely confident.' Kunal said that when Hrithik Roshan came to the trial show of the film, he also agreed that Saif was the perfect choice for this character.
News18
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji's Hum Tum Was Almost Shelved? Yash Chopra Gave Small Budget, Reveals Director
Last Updated: As Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji's beloved rom-com Hum Tum returns to theatres, Kunal Kohli reflects on how Yash Chopra initially doubted the project, gave it a minimal budget. As Hum Tum gears up for its theatrical re-release, filmmaker Kunal Kohli is revisiting the rollercoaster journey behind the beloved 2004 romantic comedy. While the film has since become a cult favorite, starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji as a modern-day rom-com couple, its road to success was far from smooth. In a candid conversation with Radio Nasha, Kohli revealed that Hum Tum wasn't well-received at first—at least not by critics. 'If you go back and read the reviews, there wasn't a single good one," he admitted. 'I was so scared, I didn't even have the courage to ask why people didn't like it." Kunal also shed light on the film's shoestring budget, granted by the late Yash Chopra. 'We had a fixed budget of Rs 7.5 crore, and Yash ji told me—once this amount is used up, the film will release as is. That was the deal," he said. To put that in perspective, other Yash Raj Films of the time had much larger budgets: Mujhse Dosti Karoge was made for Rs 17 crore, Dhoom for around Rs 16 crore, and Veer Zaara cost a whopping Rs 35 crore. Even Salaam Namaste, which came out just after Hum Tum, was budgeted between Rs 18-19 crore. 'And I had to shoot outdoor scenes in Delhi and abroad—within that limited amount," Kohli added. One of the most debated elements during production was the use of animation. 'We had a Rs 2.5 crore allocation just for animation," he revealed. 'A lot of people said the story was strong enough and didn't need it. But we pushed ahead and found a new animation studio that did it for just Rs 50 lakhs. We shifted from 3D to 2D, used static backgrounds—basically got creative within our constraints." The turning point came when Yash Chopra watched the final cut. 'He called me and Adi (Aditya Chopra) to his room. Adi warned me that I might get scolded. But Yash ji surprised us—he said, 'You were right, I was wrong. This is a beautiful film.' I started crying. He hugged me and said, 'I will proudly put my name on this.' That meant the world to me." Despite all odds, Hum Tum went on to become a box office hit, and that same year, Kohli won the Filmfare Award for Best Director—ironically in a category that also featured Yash Chopra himself for Veer Zaara. 'I felt awkward," Kunal laughed. 'Just being nominated alongside him was enough for me." Two decades later, Hum Tum remains a landmark rom-com in Bollywood, known for its charming characters, witty writing, and its iconic animated sequences—proving that sometimes, the biggest wins come from the smallest beginnings. First Published:
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Yash Chopra didn't want his name on Hum Tum, gave small budget', reveals Kunal Kohli
Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji's 2004 rom-com Hum Tum is all set to re-release in theatres soon. In a recent interview, director Kunal Kohli reflected on the film's modest budget, provided by the late Yash Chopra, and the challenges he faced during its making. During a conversation with Radio Nasha Official, Kunal shared that contrary to the film's popularity, it didn't receive positive feedback initially. 'Even if I take out Hum Tum's reviews today, we won't even see a single good review. Not even one person gave it a positive review. I was so scared. I didn't even have to courage to call and ask people why they didn't like it,' he said. The director shared that Yash Chopra gave him a small budget to work on. 'There was nothing, only a fixed budget of Rs 7.5 crores. Yash ji gave a deadline with the budget, saying that as soon as this amount is finished, I will release the film as is. Right after Hum Tum, Saif and Preity's Salaam Namastey was made by YRF, it had a budget of around Rs 8-19 crores,' he said. Kunal added, 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge was made in Rs 17 crores, Dhoom was Rs 15-16 crores and Veer Zaara had a budget of around Rs 30-35 crores. So, Hum Tum's budget was really small in front of all these, and I had to do a foreign outdoor and Delhi outdoor shoot within that amount.' ALSO READ | Aamir Khan rejected Hum Tum because he was going through divorce, Hrithik Roshan was delivering flop after flop, recalls Kunal Kohli Hum Tum's shooting came with its own set of challenges. 'There was also a Rs 2.5 crore budget allotted for animation. Many people said that don't put animation, story is good, and there's no requirement. But then, we got a new animation studio that did it in Rs 50 lakhs. We came from 3D to 2D, and kept the background static in a few scenes. However, everything changed when Yash Chopra saw the final cut of Hum Tum. 'Yash ji saw the final output in the editing room and he asked me and Adi to come to his room with him. Adi said that now you have made your film, get ready to get scolded by him. Yash ji said, 'You all were right, I was wrong, this is a beautiful film',' he revealed. Kunal Kohli continued, 'I started crying. He got up and hugged me. He said that he will proudly put my name on this. He had to mention that because he had a thought process that if he doesn't like the film, he won't put his name on it. He said that I haven't seen such a film ever. Ab chale na chale, upar waale par hai.' That same year, Kunal Kohli won the Best Director award for Hum Tum—a moment he admitted felt awkward, as he accepted it in front of industry stalwarts, including Yash Chopra, who was also nominated for Veer-Zaara. 'Hum Tum got the best director award in that year, when Yash ji was also nominated for Veer Zaara. I felt a little embarassed, because I was even happy being nominated with such names.'
News18
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Neil Nitin Mukesh Calls Out Bollywood's Toxic Culture: ‘Everyone's Frustrated, It Shows'
Last Updated: As Neil Nitin Mukesh gears up for his web debut with Hai Junoon, the actor opens up about the harsh realities of Bollywood. As actor Neil Nitin Mukesh prepares for his digital debut with the web series Hai Junoon, he's also opening a deeply personal chapter—one that strips away the gloss of showbiz to reveal its rougher edges. In a candid conversation with SCREEN, the actor reflected on the highs and lows of his cinematic journey, admitting that while Bollywood has given him many opportunities, it's also exposed him to a side of the industry that he describes as 'toxic." 'It does happen, and it gets to a point where it becomes toxic," Neil said, speaking of the unwelcome undercurrents in the industry. 'I've seen it a lot, and I still see it. I don't like that conversation. For me, the industry was like a family—or at least I used to think of it that way." The actor, whose lineage includes legendary singer Mukesh and his father, Nitin Mukesh, lamented the erosion of camaraderie and genuine appreciation in today's film circles. 'If we're part of the same fraternity, shouldn't we be cheering for each other? Shouldn't we be picking up the phone to say, 'Hey, great work'? But those calls never come unless the person is extremely close to you. And even then, no one says it to your face." Neil drew a poignant contrast between the current climate and the golden era of filmmaking led by icons like Raj Kapoor and Mukeshji. 'Back then, friendships had no agenda. Filmmaking was a passion, a collaboration. Raj Kapoor sahab didn't need validation, yet he'd still take his films to Rishikesh Mukherjee to get them checked. Today, we hide everything—our looks, trailers, cuts—until they're ready to drop." According to Neil, the root of this change lies in a collective frustration. 'Not everyone has tasted full success. There's this lingering ambition, this sense of missed opportunity that's slowly creeping into the system—and it's becoming the norm. That's not how it should be." Despite the industry's evolving dynamics, Neil has stayed resilient. His journey began in the late 1980s as a child actor in films like Vijay and Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii. Before his breakout as a lead in Johnny Gaddaar (2007), he even worked behind the camera as an assistant director on Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002). In recent years, Neil has maintained a steady presence with roles in films such as Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Saaho, and the 2024 release Hisaab Barabar. With Hai Junoon, he now steps into the digital arena, eager to reinvent and reintroduce himself to a new generation of viewers—this time on his own terms. First Published:
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neil Nitin Mukesh reveals people doubted his acting skills; called him ‘angrez ka baccha'
Neil Nitin Mukesh recently spoke about the obstacles he encountered in Bollywood because of his appearance. In an interview, he revealed that many questioned whether he could speak Hindi, given his background in a family of singers and his foreign-like looks. Overcoming Fear Before His Debut In an interview with The Therapy Diariez, Neil revealed that before landing his first film in Bollywood, he refused to let fear influence him. He believed he couldn't afford to feel any fear or panic about whether he would succeed. For him, there was no other option-he had to make it happen at any cost. Challenges Due to Family Legacy and Looks by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo Neil explained that coming from a family of renowned singers, including his grandfather Mukesh and his father, posed its own set of challenges. Many people doubted his acting skills and questioned whether his Hindi was good enough. His foreign-like appearance led some to say he looked like an "angrez ka baccha", casting doubts on his ability to work in Hindi films. Despite these obstacles, Neil managed to turn these perceived disadvantages into strengths. Early Career and Recent Work Neil began his career as a child actor with roles in 1988 film ' Vijay ' and 'Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii'. He later worked behind the scenes as an assistant director on the 2002 movie 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge'. Neil made his debut as a lead actor in 2007 with 'Johnny Gaddaar' and most recently appeared in the 2024 release 'Hisaab Barabar'.
