Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 10: As Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ completed 25 years on Monday, actress Sonali Kulkarni, who played Pooja in the film, took a nostalgic trip down memory lane by revisiting the movie's script.

Sonali shared pictures and a video of the script on her official Instagram handle, accompanied by the film's iconic title track.

Reflecting on the film's enduring impact, Sonali said it still feels as though the story unfolded only yesterday.

“Celebrating the film that changed my life and the song that still makes millions smile. Dil Chahta Hai completes 25 glorious years. It feels like just yesterday that I was dating Subodh and falling for Sameer yet finding my own voice. May we be guided by the heart and believe in love as the most transforming emotion. After all the heart wants what it wants,” she wrote.

Director Farhan Akhtar also marked the milestone on X, saying he could hardly believe that 25 years had passed since the film's release.

“Can't believe it's been 25 years.. Akash, Sameer and Sid don't look like they've aged a day! Heart filled with gratitude to you, the audience, for keeping it alive and still relevant. Big hug,” he wrote.

To commemorate the anniversary, Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani issued a joint statement recalling the beginning of their journey with Excel Entertainment and the making of ‘Dil Chahta Hai’.

“Twenty five years ago, we started Excel Entertainment and began work on a film called ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. We had a simple belief - New voices and a different way of telling stories, will find an audience. We were 26 years old. We didn't have all the answers but we had an idea we believed in, the courage to take risks and the tenacity to make it happen,” they said.

Looking ahead, they said the next 25 years would include efforts to empower young and aspiring filmmakers with bold ideas and the courage to tell stories differently.