How Yash Chopra Nearly Gave Hum Tum the Boot! The Jaw-Dropping Story Behind His Cold Shoulder to This Saif-Rani Smash Hit!

Bollywood and romantic films go together like chai and pakoras, but not every love story gets a red carpet welcome, even when powerhouse names are involved. Take ‘Hum Tum’ (2004), for instance—a film that turned Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji into household names. Yet, during its inception, it had legendary director Yash Chopra raising an eyebrow or two.

Reel Talk with Khabree Kiran: Yash Chopra’s Cold Feet

Let’s dive into the gupshup, dosto! 🎬 Kunal Kohli, the director of this rom-com, recently shared his uphill battle to get ‘Hum Tum’ rolling. Despite Aditya Chopra giving his nod, the veteran Yash Chopra wasn’t exactly singing "Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho." In fact, he called the script “ordinary,” comparing it unfavorably to the earlier film Mujhse Dosti Karoge! Ouch! 😬

Kya Hua, Yash Ji?

Why the skepticism, you ask? Well, Yash ji found the script less of a romantic saga and more of a "travel log." Talk about a reality check! He grudgingly agreed to produce the film but drew the line at shelling out more than ₹7.5 crores. “Yash ji said, ‘Bas, aur ek paisa nahi!’” Kunal Kohli recounted, probably feeling like the underdog in a Bollywood drama himself. 🎥

Faced with budget constraints tighter than your favorite jeans post-festival season, Kohli had to get creative. Animated sequences were streamlined to fit a ₹50 lakh budget, and international glamour was brought to life using stock footage. A little help from Karan Johar, who gifted New York footage from Kal Ho Naa Ho, also didn’t hurt. Talk about jugaad at its finest!

Initially, Yash ji was so skeptical that he mulled over removing his own name from the project, preferring to credit Aditya Chopra instead. But, in a filmi twist that would make even the most seasoned scriptwriter proud, everything changed after he watched the final cut. Overwhelmed, Yash Chopra admitted, “I was wrong, you both were right.” Cue the violins! 🎻

Kiran’s Gyan:

Bollywood ka Rule No. 1: Never judge a script by its cover—or its budget! Sometimes, the simplest love stories are the ones that win over hearts and box office collections alike. So, my Bollywood buffs, next time you hear a film being dismissed as “ordinary,” remember that magic often happens when you least expect it! ✨

Stay tuned for more masaledar updates and behind-the-scenes gossip with yours truly, Khabree Kiran!