Almost 25 years after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH) became a cultural phenomenon, Karan Johar has revealed which actors he would cast if he were to reimagine the iconic romance today. Notably, top stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Kiara Advani are not among them.
These actors will be cast by Karan Johar in the KKHH remake.
Karan Johar discusses the growth of Dharma Productions, highlights the impact of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He teases potential modern actors for future projects and films.
In a recent conversation with Sania Mirza for Myntra’s Glam Stream, Karan suggested Alia Bhatt as the modern Anjali, Ranveer Singh as Rahul and Ananya Panday as Tina. He hinted that Janhvi Kapoor or Sara Ali Khan could go for the role of Tina, jokingly referring to the new generation of star kids as “chhot nepo babies”.
Karan Johar highlighted the evolution of Dharma Productions, from Dostana in 1980 to the success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998.
During the chat, Karan answered questions about nepotism, insisting that he never hired anyone on their parents’ request. “I know they are nepotistic. I saw them growing up in front of me. But none of their parents ever called me. I always called,” he said, adding that even some actors have rejected his offers.
Karan also recounted the journey of Dharma Productions, from their first film Dostana in 1980 under Yash Johar’s banner, through the studio’s struggles with hits like Duniya and Agneepath, to the phenomenal success of his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998. The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji, revitalized the studio, paved the way for Kavi Khushi Kavi Gaam and established Dharma Productions as a Bollywood powerhouse, now worth ₹2,000 crore.
While Karan has not directed any of the new generation of actors in full-length roles, Ananya, Janhvi and Sara made brief appearances in his recent film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, notably in the song “Heart Throb”, which gave fans a glimpse of what a modern KKHH could be like.
Karan’s Upcoming Projects
Karan Johar is gearing up for a variety of projects under his Dharma Productions banner, which showcase his intention to explore new genres and showcase new talent. One is Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, a romantic drama starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, which is set to release in early 2026. He is producing the HC high-concept fantasy-comedy Nagzilla (starring Kartik in the lead role), which is set to release in August 2026.