1998 · Film
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Karan Johar's debut romantic drama in which a widower's young daughter sets out to reunite him with his estranged college best friend, played by Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
Rahul is a single father whose wife Tina died soon after giving birth to their daughter, Anjali. Tina left behind letters for her daughter, telling the story of their college days and of Rahul's best friend, also named Anjali, who had been in love with him. Through the letters, Tina asks her daughter to bring the two friends back together. Young Anjali heads to a summer camp in Shimla, where the older Anjali is now working.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
A classic for families and fans of big, music-filled Hindi romances about friendship and second chances. The film deals with grief and loss and runs just over three hours, so plan for a long evening.
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was Karan Johar's first film as writer and director, produced by his father Yash Johar under Dharma Productions. It was shot in India, Mauritius and Scotland. Jatin–Lalit composed the soundtrack, with lyrics by Sameer, and it became the best-selling Bollywood album of the year.
The film opened on 16 October 1998, over the Diwali weekend, and was the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1998. Box Office India figures cited by Wikipedia put its worldwide gross at about ₹106.7 crore against a budget of ₹10 crore. It won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. At the 44th Filmfare Awards it received 18 nominations and won eight, including Best Film, Best Director and all four acting awards, for Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Romantic comedy drama
- Runtime
- 185 min
- Director
- Karan Johar
- Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Salman Khan, Sana Saeed
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in Hindi?
- Yes. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a Hindi-language film.
- How long is Kuch Kuch Hota Hai?
- Kuch Kuch Hota Hai runs for 3 hours 5 minutes (185 minutes).