As the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ we had the opportunity to engage with Sana Saeed, who portrayed ‘choti Anjali’ in the movie. Sana, now a 35-year-old woman, reflects on the passage of time and shares her experiences from the iconic film.
“Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” which marks its silver anniversary on October 16, also signifies a major milestone in Karan Johar’s career as a filmmaker. The movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, and Salman Khan, along with other notable actors. Notably, it introduced Sana Saeed to the film industry when she portrayed the daughter of SRK and Rani. Today, she finds it hard to believe how much time has passed since the film’s release.
Sana notes, “I think only me and Parzaan Dastur (another child star in the film) have grown up. Otherwise, they all are still the same. And they are still such big stars.” She remains amazed by how fresh the film still appears, considering she was just a child at the time.
Reflecting on her time working on the set of ‘KKHH,’ Sana emphasized the impactful experience it was, particularly at her young age. She was inspired by the cast and crew’s dedication and work ethic. Even though the people she worked with were already established stars, they were down-to-earth and professional.
Sana Saeed remembers feeling shy when the film was released, especially when people referred to her as ‘choti Anjali.’ She recalls instances when she was approached during her college years, and it was challenging for her to accept the respect and recognition. Her upbringing was quite normal, and she initially didn’t grasp the film’s magnitude. It was only when she re-entered the industry and people still recognized her as the young child actor that she fully appreciated the incredible journey she had been on.
Regarding her interactions with the film’s stars or Karan Johar, Sana mentioned, “When I did Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Karan was a host. Shah Rukh had also come to promote his film on the show. Student of the Year was also from them. I remember calling Shah Rukh ‘uncle’ during the film, I don’t know how would I address him today, Shah Rukh ji or just Shah Rukh (laughs).”
While discussing the film, we posed some hypothetical questions to Sana, leading to an amusing exploration of potential scenarios:
What if Tina never died, would Anjali and Rahul meet in their life ever? Sana believes that if Tina had survived, Anjali would have enjoyed a wonderful childhood and a happy family. She is unsure if Anjali and Rahul would cross paths.
What if Tina never came to college, would little Anjali ever be born? Sana believes that her character, Anjali, would still have been born, as destiny would have found a way. She humorously suggests that they might have married and named their child Junior Anjali.
What if Rahul decided not to go to the summer camp? What would Anjali’s next move have been? Sana speculates that Anjali might have found a tuition teacher, perhaps someone older, who would act as an elder Anjali, helping them meet.
What if Aman had chosen to marry Anjali? Sana thinks that Anjali and Aman would have led a happy life together. While Rahul was her first love, Aman was a good choice and would have kept her content.
How did little Anjali read the eight letters Tina wrote for her? Sana imagines that her character’s grandmother would have read the letters to her when she was a child. As she grew older, Anjali would read them on her own.
How did little Anjali imagine the whole flashback at the mere age of 8? Sana reveals that the director would send her mother out of the room and ask her to imagine life without her. This made her very emotional, and she cried during the scene, as she was upset that her mother was not with her even though she was just in the next room.
Why were both Anjalis so hyper most of the time? Sana confesses that she is a naturally hyper person in real life, always upbeat and energetic. She speculates that this characteristic might have influenced her portrayal of ‘choti Anjali’ in the film.
In conclusion, Sana provides an insightful look into the world of “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and shares her perspectives on various scenarios from the film. She also emphasizes the impact of this iconic movie on her life and career.
