Love vs discipline. Ego vs sentiment. And Shah Rukh Khan vs Amitabh Bachchan. As the world stepped into the new millennium (2000), the Hindi film industry played its biggest trump card by pitching two superstars representing two generations, legacy, and stardom in the romantic film Mohabbatein. Shah Rukh Khan was 35 then, Amitabh Bachchan was nearing 60.
As the film turns 25 today, let's revisit how Mohabbatein portrayed Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan as the epitome of star power to tell a tale of love.
How Aditya Chopra Utilised Stardom In His Second Directorial
After Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Aditya Chopra took five years to make his second directorial feature. His concept remained the same: love vs patriarchal hegemony, much like his debut hit. But this time, he leaned more heavily on star power.
Back in 2000, the idea of stardom was not fragmented. Social media was not an omnipresent identity. At a time when audiences flocked to theatres to see the biggest stars of the country on the big screen, Aditya Chopra envisioned his love story with the two most powerful stars of the nation.
Amitabh Bachchan played the stern Narayan Shankar, a principal who lived by "Parampara, Pratishtha, Anushasan" to run his Gurukul (an elite boarding school). Love was strictly forbidden under his regime.
Some classic BTS moments from the classic film. #YRF50 | #Mohabbatein pic.twitter.com/9prZ3xRqo2
— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) February 4, 2021
Contrasting his patriarchal persona was the free-spirited music teacher Raj Aryan (Shah Rukh Khan), who loved to break rules, challenge norms, and held up a mirror to Narayan, who hid personal loss beneath a stern exterior.
Different Generations, Different Emotions
Casting Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan in Mohabbatein was another masterstroke in cementing their established personas and serving the film's narrative template.
Known as the Angry Young Man of the '70s and '80s, Amitabh Bachchan had shifted towards mature roles, bidding adieu to his Lal Baadshah era. Shah Rukh Khan, already known as a romantic hero, expanded his fanbase with his charismatic Raj, but slightly different from his role in DDLJ.
Mohabbatein also introduced six nearly new faces: Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Preeti Jhangiani, Jimmy Sheirgill and Jugal Hansraj.
Shah Rukh Khan's character acted as a mentor to these young couples, who struggled to navigate the strict Gurukul rules while coming to terms with their youthful passions.
It was a balancing act by the makers to blend new faces and established superstars, appealing to multiple generations.
When Shah Rukh Talked About His "Rivalry" With Big B
On the 20th anniversary of Mohabbatein, Shah Rukh Khan posted on X, "Pyaar aise hota hai... Saying these lines once again after 20 years, still remember how in a small studio I recorded them with Adi breathing down my neck and Yash ji loving it. Sudden nostalgia. #Mohabbatein20 #AdityaChopra."
Pyaar aise hota hai…saying the lines once again after 20 yrs, still remember how in a small studio had recorded the same with Adi breathing down my neck & Yashji loving it. Sudden nostalgia. @yrf#Mohabbatein20 #AdityaChopra pic.twitter.com/Clf5GJMVXd
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 27, 2020
During an 'Ask SRK' session on X, when a fan asked him about Mohabbatein completing 20 years, he said, "I remember doing the first scene with Amitabh Bachchan and realizing how short and small I am."
I remember doing the first scene with @SrBachchan and realised how short and small I am!!! https://t.co/mETxCdepLU
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 27, 2020
As Shah Rukh Khan stepped into Amitabh Bachchan's shoes with roles like the remake of Don (2006) and hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 3 (2007), debates on who was the bigger star dominated headlines.
While fan clubs engaged in fierce virtual battles, Shah Rukh Khan addressed the buzz in a 2007 interview with Rediff. He said, "I think I have said this before, we are quite educated, cultured, graceful people, doing well in our lives and professions. We worked together in many successful films, and had some really enjoyable work together, as recently as KANK (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, 2006). It's very strange, it does get a little embarrassing more than anything else... Entertainment has become part of news, and news has become part of entertainment now."
Calling the rivalry "media-generated," Shah Rukh Khan added, "I think so, absolutely. They have been trying for a long time, and finally had some sort of success. So, my congratulations. But as far as I am concerned, and I am sure Mr Bachchan is concerned, we have no issues at all."
The Epic Confrontation Scene In Mohabbatein
Powered by sharp dialogues, a heavy background score, and the formidable presence of the two matinee idols, the confrontation scene of Mohabbatein still stirs conversation online.
Love vs Fear. Which side are you on? #Mohabbatein pic.twitter.com/vgQtah225P
— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) June 16, 2022
Some memorable lines from the scene by Shah Rukh Khan include:
"Maaf ki jiyega sir, par jahaan se main dekh raha hoon aap har gaye... Kyunki jahaan se main dekh raha hoon, mujhe ek 55 saal ka baap apni ek 19 saal ki beti ki phool chadi tasvir ke niche khada dikha raha hai."
"Aap zindagi ki har jung jeette chale aay, par zindagi ke saare sahare haarte chale gaye."
While Raj dropped truth bombs, Narayan's life was governed by one truth:
"Parampara, Pratishtha, Anushasan. Yeh is gurukul ke teen stambh hai. Yeh woh aadarsh hain jinse hum aapka aane waala kal banaate hain."
Conclusion
Cinema has evolved significantly in the last 25 years, often beyond our imagination. Hindi filmmakers struggle to deliver hits in an era dominated by Insta-reels and TikTok videos. A love story (Saiyaara) set in a completely different milieu churned out a whopping amount of money this year and gave birth to two stars (Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda). Notably, Ahaan was mentored by Aditya Chopra and the film was produced by Yash Raj Films.
But in an era before the digital boom, Aditya Chopra showed how stars could change the destiny of a film without being hidden from the glares of media.
