Exclusive - Sonali Kulkarni on Dil Chahta Hai’s cult status: 'We had no idea it would become a landmark'

Sonali and Saif in a still from Dil Chahta Hai

It has been over two decades since 'Dil Chahta Hai' released , but the movie continues to resonate with audiences across generations.

The film which maked the directorial debut of Farhan Akhtar, Dil Chahta Hai starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna redefined Hindi cinema with its fresh narrative, modern outlook, and portrayal of friendship. It was released in 2001.

Sonali Kulkarni, who played Pooja, Saif Ali Khan’s love interest, still recalls how the team never expected the film to achieve the 'cult status' it enjoys today.

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Sonali Kulkarni admitted that the scale of the film’s legacy was unimaginable at the time of its making.

“Dil Chahta Hai was one of a film which was ahead of its times. Since we had call sheets, we had actors who were supposed to report on time. It was even time for hair, makeup, costumes. So, I feel that it is a trend setter for Indian cinema when it comes to planning the film. But one had no idea that it will become a landmark of Indian cinema today. We were spontaneous, we were innocent and so was everyone,” she said.

Professionalism was the key 

According to Sonali, the film stood out not just because of the way friendships were shown on screen, but also because of the professionalism behind the scenes.

“There was 80% of planning and discipline and 20% of spontaneity. Nobody stopped the spontaneity, but to support that there was outstanding framework," she explained saying this this mix is what gave the film its distinct edge.

The movie marked the emergence of Excel Entertainment, founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, who later went on to collaborate on iconic projects with Zoya Akhtar.

“Dil Chahta Hai gave us a very powerful production house like Excel Entertainment with Ritesh and Farhan. And the legacy I look forward to, because Farhan and Zoya… look at their lineage. And the kind of cinema they are bringing to us is something that I look forward to,” she noted.

Watch the Exclusive Interview of Sonali

From hairstyles and songs to locations and dialogues, the film created a cultural moment that defined the early 2000s.

Today, younger audiences continue to discover it through streaming, cementing its position as a true cult classic. As Sonali Kulkarni summed up, the team may have been “innocent and spontaneous” while shooting, but the result was nothing short of timeless.

On the professional front, Sonali is going to be seen as a shrewd politician in The Trial Season 2 with Kajol in the lead. It will stream on JioHotstar from today (September 19).