Sonali Kulkarni interview: I cannot keep calm as Dil Chahta Hai has completed 25 long years. If you have watched the film, you will vividly remember the memories associated with the Farhan Akhtar directorial. As DCH celebrated its silver jubilee, I got an opportunity to interact with the ever-gracious and talented Sonali Kulkarni over a phone call.
In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Assistant Editor Abhishek Ranjit, Sonali Kulkarni got candid about Dil Chahta Hai turning 25 and how Zoya Akhtar’s accidental discovery changed the course of her career. The tinsel town diva also shared her thoughts on the success of Dil Chahta Hai and what makes the film relevant even today.
Here are excerpts from the interview
1. Your casting story is almost cinematic. Did that accidental discovery by Zoya Akhtar change the course of your career?
Sonali: Yes, absolutely. It was quite accidental. Zoya had seen my work before, in films like Daira, Doghi, Mukta and Dr. Ambedkar, and she was looking for a fresh face for Dil Chahta Hai. Somehow, my photographs fell out of a file and she saw them. She remembered me and asked me to audition.
I think Dil Chahta Hai became my grand welcome into the industry and, in many ways, my establishment within it. It gave me a different kind of visibility and introduced me to a much wider audience.
2. Coming from Pune, did you ever feel out of place in the glamorous world of Dil Chahta Hai?
Sonali: No, I don’t think I ever felt out of place. I was very excited to be part of the film. Everyone was young, passionate and hardworking, and the atmosphere on the set was very youthful and full of humour.
I think everybody was just doing their work with a lot of sincerity. There was no feeling that I had to behave in a certain way or that I didn’t belong there. We were all learning and enjoying ourselves together.
3. What is your funniest behind-the-scenes memory from shooting Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan with Saif Ali Khan?
Sonali: I can’t tell you how much we laughed during that song. Saif and I would burst out laughing every time we saw each other. One of the funniest moments was when I came on set wearing that body-hugging Punjabi suit with the bouffant hairstyle. Saif couldn’t stop laughing. He said, “I’m feeling as if I’m dancing with my mom because Sharmila ji used to have that bouffant hairstyle.”
And then there was the whole blue look when we recreated that Chandni-Madhuri-Juhi era. Everything was blue – the bangles, hair clips, earrings, chappals, pallu, blouse, everything. We just laughed and laughed.
The whole song was such a fun experience. Farah is a fabulous teacher and the mood on the set was always so peppy.
4. Why do you think Dil Chahta Hai still feels fresh and relevant 25 years later?
Sonali: I think it is because of the writing and the fact that it is really about friendship. The characters are at a very important stage in their lives – they are graduating, entering a new phase, making decisions and figuring things out.
Those emotions don’t really change. Even today, when I watched the film with my daughter Kaveri, I could see that the story still connects with the younger generation. That is what makes it timeless. The circumstances may change, but the emotions and relationships remain relatable.
5. If you could meet your 2001 self today, what would you tell her about Dil Chahta Hai?
Sonali: I think I would tell her to enjoy the moment and not overthink anything. At that time, we were all just working, learning and having fun. We didn’t know that 25 years later people would still be talking about the film and remembering those characters and songs.
I would probably tell her, “Just enjoy this. You have no idea how special this film is going to become and how many people it is going to touch over the years.”
