The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced that a special 30th-anniversary celebration of the iconic Indian film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will be featured in its 2028 edition. The announcement, made on Friday, highlights the return of Karan Johar's directorial debut to the big screen to honor its status as a landmark of Indian cinema. The event is expected to include the presence of Johar and other guests.
The film, which follows the love triangle between Rahul Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan), Anjali Sharma (Kajol), and Tina Malhotra (Rani Mukerji), holds a unique connection to Scotland as it was partly filmed there. It stands as the first major Indian production to shoot extensively across the country, utilizing locations such as Eilean Donan Castle, Glen Coe, Tantallon Castle, and Inchmahome Priory.
The invitation for Johar to mark this anniversary at the 2028 festival was extended during a meeting held earlier this week in Mumbai at the offices of his production company, Dharma Productions. The gathering included Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, and David Smith, the interim executive director of Screen Scotland. According to EIFF, the discussions centered on strengthening Scotland's role as a partner for Indian film and television production, co-productions, talent development, and cultural exchange.
First Minister Swinney expressed his pleasure at meeting Johar and his anticipation for welcoming him to Edinburgh. He noted that during his visit to India, he engaged with representatives from the Indian film industry to explore future collaborations. Swinney emphasized that Scotland's screen industry offers world-class filming locations, infrastructure, and expertise, positioning it as a creative partner capable of supporting a wide range of productions.
Paul Ridd, CEO and festival director of EIFF, stated that his team is always looking toward the future, which led them to seize this opportunity. He described the initiative as planting seeds for a celebration of a legendary film that features both Scotland and some of Bollywood's most iconic stars. While the focus is on the 81st edition in 2028, Ridd noted that more news regarding the upcoming 80th festival, scheduled to run from August 12 to 18, will be shared soon.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.