25 April,2026 03:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Karan Johar
Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is widely considered as one of the most daring and bold films by him. The 2006 film confronted the theme of infidelity head-on within mainstream commercial cinema, supported by a star cast of Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta. Upon release, the film opened to a mixed response from both critics and audiences. Now, Karan has revealed that he is adapting the controversial film into a web series two decades later.
While speaking at The Week, Karan revealed that he is now adapting Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna into a long-form series. He revealed, "We're actually adapting it into a long-form series. The root of that film, it was, of course, released in 2006 to very polarised responses. I had many people come up to me and ask me whether I was unwell after that film, because they said, ‘How can you endorse infidelity?' And I was like, ‘How can you endorse something that's already so sold out'?"
He further recalled a reaction during the film's early screening, "I still remember when I was watching the film with an audience a day prior to its release. There was a very traditional couple watching the film, and there's a moment where Shah Rukh and Rani check into a hotel room. The lady, she had come with her husband, turned dramatically to him, and he very calmly said, ‘It's a dream sequence.' After five minutes, they realised it was not a dream sequence, and then they got up and left. And then I realised that we are in such a polarised audience space, that people judge what happens in their homes, they forget it, they brush it under the carpet, but they don't want to watch it on celluloid, even though it's probably a reality in their own home."
Talking about the upcoming adaptation, Karan revealed, "So we're doing a series, a long-form show for a platform, which I'm not able to give you too many details about right now, but it will be out soon."
However, seems like the internet is not too impressed with the announcement. One user wrote, "Who wants to watch that thrash. I hate it even in theatre. It happens in reality but the audience does not want to get traumatised watching it as you don't know whose wound you have dig it up fresh. Even if to show infidelity there should be morals and not crossing one line. In KANK there was no reason to even cheat your spouse. I would given up my life for spouses like Rhea and Rishi."
While another comment read, "He will not rest till he destroys everything he has made." A third user questioned, "What a shit movie……who wants that crap.."
