Even though Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has been a widely popular film, it has received a significant amount of criticism in recent years. Now looking back, people have begun to notice that much of the film is unrealistic (for example, Tina writing a rather elaborate and mature letter for her 8-year-old daughter) and that it is basically…sexist. Many have pointed out how the film re-establishes the idea that a woman has to fit into the stereotypical feminine trope in order to become the object of attraction for a man.
Rani Mukerji recently opened up to India.com about this criticism and said that we shouldn’t judge a person (indicating Rahul) for the choices that they make.
“Falling in love is something very subjective to each person and we can’t judge a person for their choices because, at the end of the day, it’s your heart. You can’t direct your heart to do things that a particular person would feel is morally right or morally wrong. What might come across right to you might be wrong for the other person. I think considering all the flaws that we all are living with, we should not sit and judge others for what they are doing,” she said.
She went on to add that Tina is much more than just a pretty face, that she was “rooted in her culture” and “grounded” which made Rahul fall in love with her.
“She was someone who was very hard to get for him (Rahul) which resulted in him having the curiosity to go more after her. The fact that she sang ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare’ on the college campus while he thought that she’s born and brought up in London… The fact that she is so deeply rooted in her culture and that she’s so grounded – those and a lot of other things probably attracted Rahul to Tina as a person as well.”
Rani further reasoned:
“I won’t categorise it as ‘he went for someone who looked great and not for Anjali who was more of a tomboy.’ I won’t make it as frivolous as that. I would say that there was a lot of depth to Tina’s character for someone like Rahul to have fallen for her… Because, at the end of it all, it was Tina who understood the love that Rahul and Anjali had for each other. She, in turn, makes her daughter reunite the two of them. You know there that Tina had a lot of depth along with being a good-looking girl.”
Do you agree with what Rani Mukerji has to say about the film? Tell us!