As the millennium first mega blockbuster completes 20 years, we give you some interesting trivia on its making.

Slideshows

2 decades of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai: A look back at the making of Hrithik Roshan's much-loved Bollywood entertainer

Team CE

Updated:6th Apr, 2021 at 7:03 PM

KNPH was added to the Guiness Book of World Records 2002 edition for winning the most number of awards for a movie. Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai won a total of 92 awards.

Hrithik Roshan met his wife for the first time exactly the same way Rohit meets Sonia in the film, at a traffic signal.

After release, New Zealand became more popular for Indians. The applications for visas and permits for Indian students/tourists went up. The visa office had to be enlarged to the tune of US$500,000.

Coca-Cola was advertised throughout the film indirectly. After the movie became a smash hit Coca-Cola signed Hrithik Roshan as their new campaign model.

Hrithik Roshan has 6 fingers in his right hand. When he played Raj he tried to cover that defect in every scene by using hand gloves and playing the character as left handed.

The actress who played Raj's mother Asha Patel in the movie was the real life mother of Amisha Patel.

Due to the huge success of KNPH, Rakesh Roshan was targeted by the Mafia. For the foreign distribution rights of the film Rakesh Roshan was shot by the Mumbai underworld but survived.

Biggest Indian hit film of 2000. Turned lead actor Hrithik Roshan (in his debut performance) overnight into a superstar and the craze of the nation (Hrithikmania).

Rakesh Roshan thought of having Shah Rukh Khan in the original draft, but he couldn't create a decent ending. Hrithik told his dad that he has done enough movies with the Khans, and should pick him.

Hrithik Roshan became the first actor, and to date the only actor to win both the best debut and best actor awards, for his debut performance.

Kareena Kapoor was first signed to play the female lead, but she walked out of the film, few days into the shoot. She was then replaced with newcomer Ameesha Patel, who became a star overnight.

Hrithik Roshan used weight training to bulk up for his role. He was trained under the supervision of Salman Khan.

Before Hrithik Roshan started his acting carrier he worked for many years as an assistant director to his father Rakesh Roshan.

During the first days of the filming Hrithik was shy and confused on his dance steps. Choreographer Farah Khan had to give him moral support to help him improve.

KNPH holds the record for winning most awards on all award ceremonies including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Music, Best Actor, Best Newcomers.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was first offered the role of Sonia.

Pop singer turned actor Lucky Ali's first debut for singing in a movie.

It was Hrithik's idea to give eyeglass for Raj's character with a clean shaved persona. But Rakesh Roshan was against that, he wanted Raj and Rohit appearance to be exactly the same.

The gestures shown by Hritihik on his brother like touching his face with hands was taken from the movie Face/Off (1997).

Ameesha Patel's parents originally told her that she wasn't allowed to do the film.

The film was to be shot in the Fiji Islands But Rakesh Roshan changed it to New Zealand after problems with getting permission.

Salman Khan allowed Hrithik Roshan to use his personal gym for fitness training for the film.

In the scene where Raj, Sonia go to meet Rohit's brother, there is a sequence where Kareena Kapoor is shown with Hrithik. The scene is shot from a distance, so Kareena Kapoor is unrecognizable.

Kareena Kapoor opted out of the film as she wanted to debut with Abhisheik Bachchan in Refugee 2000.

Rakesh Roshan was inspired from Aradhana 1969 to make this film.

Rakesh Roshan didn't want to show any relationship between the dual roles of Hrithik Roshan as Rohit and Raj, like lost brothers, as it was shown in films based on such themes.

Actor Vrajesh Hirjee's (Tony) first Hindi film.

During the shooting the song Pyar ki Kashti, everyone fell sea sick. The captain of the ship, who was Russian, made Tony to have a green apple and a shot of vodka.

Mohnish Bahl had not met Hrithik until this film.

A Pakistani American boy named Kashif performed the song 'Ek Pal Ka Jeena' for the famous American TV Show 'America's Got Talent'.

Two climaxes were filmed, one having Raj killed in the end and other having Raj joins with Sonia. For the theatric release they choose the happy ending.

During the film's first draft, Raj and Rohit were two different people with same face. One is bad and another is good. But, Rakesh Roshan didn't like that idea. He wanted both of them to be good.

The ship scenes were filmed aboard the Star Flyer.

The island scenes were filmed in Krabi, Thailand in the area near Khao Phing Kan (popularly known as James Bond Island).

Rakesh Roshan collected his first ever Filmfare Award, which he won as producer and as director.

When adjusted for inflation, KNPH was the 11th highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time as of 2011,and the sixth highest-grossing film of the 2000s.

The film's music was composed by Rajesh Roshan with lyrics by Ibrahim Ashq, Saawan Kumar Tak and Vijay Akela.

The film's soundtrack album became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack of the year, selling about 10 million units

The film's soundtrack album became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack of the year,[27] selling about 10 million units

Hrithik Roshan allegedly got 30,000 marriage proposals post the release of his debut film

Beating biggies like Mohabbatein and Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai was the highest grosser of 2000.

When Hrithik called Salman, he wasn't sure whether Salman would remember him. But Salman recognised him and accepted his request of helping him with his physique. They had worked in Karan Arjun.

The dancing sequences were choreographed by Farah Khan.

The film's title begins with the letter K, as per Rakesh Roshan's traditions of naming his films.