‘Shah Rukh wanted us to replace him after shooting for a day’

After Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, I got a chance to direct for Dharma Productions.

I was writing an action thriller, but Yash uncle felt Karan and I should continue in the same space as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Karan had a script ready and called me to his office to narrate it.

I liked it and we went ahead with Kal Ho Naa Ho.

The film would have been a blockbuster with any director because it had all the ingredients of success, inherent in the script and dialogue.

Also, by then, Yash uncle had decided every Dharma film would have a certain standard, and we were the first Hindi film unit to shoot in New York when everyone was filming in Europe.

We started with a four-day schedule at the Community Centre, with Shah Rukh, Achala Sachdev and Zohra Sehgal.

After a day, Shah Rukh had to leave, to attend to his ailing back.

When he learnt that he would have to undergo surgery in February, he wanted us to replace him, even offering to speak to Aamir (Khan) or Salman (Khan).

We insisted that we would wait for our angel even after he warned that he would need around six months to recuperate.

We went back to New York only in June, with him.