SRK and I were in talks for a film on terrorism before Kal Ho Naa Ho: Nikkhil
For someone who started his journey as an associate director on romantic and family dramas such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Nikkhil Advani has certainly come a long way. He has action thrillers like Batla House and Satyameva Jayate (2018) now to his credit.
One wonders what changed for him in all these years to make such a drastic shift. “Tomorrow, if, someone gives me a great romantic film, a superb script like The Bridges of Madison County (1995), I’d do it. I don’t want to become that person who says ‘I’m only going to make Batla House’ (even if) people say ‘zone correct hai’. My first film was Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996), most people seem to forget that. I wrote it with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra,” says Nikkhil.
On how he came to associate with Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra (on Mohabbatein, 2006), he reveals, “I met Karan at an award function, and he mentioned directing KKHH. I was working with them... because of the people they were.”
KAL HO NAA HO (2003) WAS A TURNING POINT IN NIKKHIL’S BOLLYWOOD CAREER AND HE FEELS “FORTUNATE” HE WAS ALLOWED TO MAKE IT.
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) was a turning point in Nikkhil’s career and he feels “fortunate” he was allowed to make it. “I wanted to make a film on terrorism like Dil Se (1998) and Shah Rukh and I were talking about it as my directoral debut. But Yash Johar ji (Karan’s late father) felt KHNH was their production house’s second innings and they had to cement their place. Once Karan decided to helm KKHH, they needed one more film in the genre to give a stamp that their banner will be known for (this),” Nikkhil adds.
Rishabh Suri