Rakesh Roshan Opens Up on 'Karan Arjun': Salman’s Excitement, SRK’s Reservations
According to director Rakesh Roshan, "Karan Arjun", the Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan starrer where brothers are reincarnated as brothers, is actually the story of a belief in a mother that unfolds like a fairytale.

Rakesh Roshan Opens Up on 'Karan Arjun': New Delhi, no vanity vans, a family-like set and two rising stars. According to director Rakesh Roshan, "Karan Arjun", the Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan starrer where brothers are reincarnated as brothers, is actually the story of a belief in a mother that unfolds like a fairytale.
Roshan has brought out the movie on November 22 just ahead of its 30th anniversary in January.
He added that Salman and Shah Rukh had different reasons for doing the film, which originally released on January 13, 1995 and also featured veteran stars Rakhee and Amrish Puri. Mamta Kulkarni, Kajol and Johnny Lever were also part of the movie.
"I had worked with Rakhee a lot as an actor and with Amrish Puri ji in 'Kishen Kanhaiya'. We became good friends. Shah Rukh worked with me in ‘King Uncle’. In fact, I gave him the first cheque as a signing amount though his other two films released prior to 'King Uncle'," Roshan told PTI in an interview.
Roshan knew Salman's father, celebrated screenwriter Salim Khan.
"We were all like a family and when I narrated the story to them, Salman loved it, Shah Rukh didn’t believe in it. He told me, ‘I don’t believe in reincarnation but if you are making it, I will work on it'," the filmmaker said, recalling his initial conversation with the two actors.
Also Read: Manipur Violence Triggers BJP Leader Resignations; 1 Killed in Jiribam Protests
Over the years, the movie and its dialogues like 'Mere Karan Arjun Ayenge', 'Thakur to Gyo' and others have acquired a cult status and are now part of memes and reels.
Decoding the film's appeal across generations, Roshan said most of reincarnation dramas in Hindi cinema revolved around lovers but he thought about making a movie that spoke of the bond between a mother and her children.
"If her sons are killed in front of her and she demands God to bring them back and they are reincarnated, would that not make for a good story? I remember Puri ji asking me, 'Rakesh, do you think Karan Arjun would come back?' I told him, 'They will come back to avenge their death if you kill them brutally.' It was all fun," he said.
Roshan said he was more than sincere to the story but how the film performs at the box office depends on the "chemistry between the audience and the movie".
"It's a miracle that people have loved 'Karan Arjun' and made it their own. I am going to release the film 30 years later and I will get to know whether they still love it or not. Will they believe in these emotions and this fairytale? I hope they will because it is a fairytale, but it is also a test for me," he added.
Also Read: SC Suggests Online Schooling as Delhi-NCR Faces Severe Air Pollution
Though close friends in real life, too, Shah Rukh and Salman did a film together only for the first time in the 1995 hit, though they have shared screen space now and then, the chemistry in their first film together is remembered even today.
Director of films like "Koyla", "Kaho Naa. Pyaar Hai", "Koi. Mil Gaya", "Krrish" and "Krrish 3", attributes this to the mode of operations of film sets back in the 90s.
"There were no vanity vans at the time so everyone would be together on the sets. If Johnny Lever was shooting for his scenes, all the actors, including Amrish Puri ji, would sit and 'gup shup' would happen. We would take our evening tea together. If we were shooting outdoors, there would be a small 'mehfil'. Actors bonded with each other and that bond reflected in their movies as well."
The director states that his son Hrithik Roshan, who ventured into the field by debuting with "Kaho Naa.... Pyaar Hai" in 2000 and has gone on to become one of the most successful actors of his generation, used to accompany him in all his films.
Hrithik, who was 17 when he saw this film, has recently shared a memory of how 'Bhaag Arjun Bhaag scene' in the movie came to be, was also a part of every story narration, he revealed.
"That's how he has learned and even today, he is the best person to bounce ideas across. I tell him impossible stories that would otherwise not work but he gets what I am thinking. He understands that the story will connect with the masses, from Jhumri Telaiya to someone sitting in LA."
Asked whether he is someone who reads reviews of his films, Roshan said that while audience verdict means everything to him, he reads up on what others are saying about his work.
He is from the same cultural background of film-scoring maestro Roshan and began his stint in films as an assistant director. He has starred in quite a few films such as "Khoobsurat", "Aankhon Aankhon Mein" and "Kamchor".
"I wanted to have my own production house like Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand," added the filmmaker.
When asked if the new generation has welcomed "Karan Arjun," Roshan keeps listening to how popular it is from people around him.
Also Read: NTPC Green Energy IPO Price, GMP Trend & Key Dates You Shouldn’t Miss
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest Entertainment News on The National Bulletin