Director Nikhil Advani reveals no star wanted to be the first to arrive on set during ‘Bole Chudiyan’ song shoot: “Shah Rukh would ask about Hrithik, he would ask about Kareena…”

In one of his recent interviews, Nikhil Advani has shared that it was a task getting the cast of ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ to appear on the set at the same time.

Helmed by Karan Johar, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ was a major hit at the ticket windows when released in 2001. The film was headlined by Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, and Hrithik Roshan. Since so many popular names joined forces on the project, it may have been challenging for the makers to manage them. Indeed, Nikhil Advani, who served as an assistant director in the film, revealed that there were times when it became tough to bring the stars together, especially when they were required to be present on the set at the same time.

In one of his recent interviews, he shared that each would wait for the others to arrive on set before marking their own presence.

Nikhil Advani recalls the challenges of managing ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ cast

Speaking to Filmfare, the ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ director shared that there used to be seven vanity vans on the set during the shoot of the popular song “Bole Chudiyan,” each assigned to an actor. However, none of the actors would be willing to arrive on set first. Nikhil recalled the set being “lit up like it was Diwali” and him walking from one vanity van to another, asking the stars to mark their presence on the set duly.

He said, “I went and I told Kajol that shot is ready, she asked, ‘Has Shah Rukh come?’ I said no. She says, ‘Tell him to come, then I will come.’ I go to Shah Rukh, he asks, ‘Has Hrithik come? Tell him to come, then I’ll come.’ I go to Hrithik, he asks, ‘Has Bebo come? Tell her to come and then I will.’ I go to Jaya ji, she asks, ‘Has the old man come? No.’ So nobody has come.”

Coordinating the stars and putting up with their tantrums

Nikhil further confessed that he and other assistant directors had to legit place themselves outside the vanity van of each actor in order to ensure that they stepped out almost at the same time. Talking about this experience, the ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ director added, “I said ‘Jaya ji, I am standing outside your van and I am putting six other ADs outside other vans. We are on a walkie, you step out, I promise you everyone will step out. That’s how we did it.”

Advani further shared that Karan Johar would be “shouting on the walkie” due to the delay. However, he also added that things pretty much went smoothly once the actors stepped out of their vanity vans and arrived on set. He continued, “They are stars, they have tantrums but once they are there, they would be like ‘You are looking so lovely.’ All of this used to happen. It was madness. Jaya ji and Kajol would talk in Bangla. Amit ji would be sitting there. It was crazy.”