The year 2001 was marked by blockbusters like ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, yet ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’ quietly carved out its own success. The film, which introduced Tusshar Kapoor alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, won audiences over with its simple, heartfelt love story and this May, it turned 25.
Tusshar Kapoor on getting mobbed at Metro Cinema
Talking to Variety India, Tusshar said, “The number of messages I got from people on the film completing 25 years has been amazing. Many of them told me how they watched it as teenagers or listened to the songs on their Walkman. They had vivid memories of watching the movie three or four times at multiplexes. It was that changing era when multiplexes had just come in. I remember going to watch it at Metro Cinema on the day it released, and it was a full house. I remember getting mobbed after the show, so I had to go to the manager’s office and wait for the crowd to disperse. We were not expecting that kind of reaction.”
Tusshar Kapoor and Ahmed Khan, reunited decades later
That visit to Metro Cinema wasn’t a solo trip, Tusshar was accompanied by Ahmed Khan, the choreographer behind ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’s memorable songs. The two share a bond that has only grown stronger over the years, and are now collaborating again with Khan stepping into the director’s chair. “We feel nostalgic now because I just finished ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ with Ahmed. We’ve been in touch lately, first during the shoot and now during promotions. While shooting for Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, I would keep to myself and work on my character. He was one of the few people who would talk to me,” recalls Kapoor.
Tusshar Kapoor on standing strong before the giants arrived
‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’ had barely been in theatres for three weeks when two of Bollywood’s biggest juggernauts came knocking, ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ arrived on the same day and instantly dominated the box office conversation. Yet by that point, Tusshar’s debut had already made its mark. “When the film was about to release, I just wanted people to watch it once, but it got this huge opening, and then it kept running. I think it ran for more than 25 weeks in many theatres. ‘Gadar’ and ‘Lagaan,’ which released three weeks after our movie, were massive hits too. Had they not released so close to it, ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’ would have done even better. I think the wave of ‘Gadar,’ especially, took over. But fortunately, the movie had already done great business by then,” he reflects.
Tusshar Kapoor on getting to know Kareena Kapoor
Long before they shared the screen in the ‘Golmaal’ franchise, Tusshar and Kareena were first-time co-stars navigating an unfamiliar dynamic on the sets of ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’. Their off-screen equation, it turns out, was far less comfortable than what audiences saw. “We were not really friends before the film. I would see her at parties sometimes because of mutual friends, and we had met once or twice as children. So, I knew her, but I wasn’t really close to her. We got to know each other only while making this film. I wasn’t very outgoing on the set, so I don’t blame Kareena or myself for not really getting to know each other. Even during the shoot, I kept to myself because I was really scared of Satishji (director Satish Kaushik). He was very strict and wanted me to immerse myself in the character. I wouldn’t socialize on set at all. I would either be in my make-up room or with Satishji. The time I started opening up was when we shot a song in New Zealand. But as long as the chemistry shows on screen, it doesn’t matter. People loved us in the film,” he reminisces.
Tusshar Kapoor on the unpredictability of the film industry
Looking back, Tusshar admits that the film industry is too unpredictable for anyone to be fully in control. “I don’t think you can change much in this profession because, like most professions, things are not entirely at the mercy of your wishes or command,” he says.The one thing he wishes he had done differently is taking on more films early in his career. “I wish I knew I wanted to become an actor much before I did, then I could have planned it better because once you are in the industry, you are constantly on your toes and just doing your best, the rest is not in your control. I wouldn’t change anything, but I would probably do more films. I was very new, so I was very cautious. I didn’t want to have a line of flops, therefore I was selective. But now, when I look back, I feel like it would have been okay if I had made more mistakes. I was right in not doing certain movies, but if I had done them, I would have had more films to my credit; even if they hadn’t done well, they would have had their value. There is no harm in doing more work and then learning from your mistakes. I should have been a little less selective,” he concludes.
