Synopsis

Set in New York City, the story of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna revolves around the budding romance between Dev (Shahrukh Khan) and Maya (Rani Mukerji). The pair are unhappy in their separate marriages; Dev is married to Rhea (Preity Zinta) and Maya is married to Rishi (Abhishek Bachchan). When Dev and Maya meet, the two realize that they complement each other perfectly. They fall in love with one another and begin to question the validity of their own respective marriages. The film explores the strong feelings that Dev and Maya have for each other, affect not only their lives, but also of those around them.

Cast

• Shahrukh Khan ... Dev Saran
• Rani Mukerji ... Maya Talwar
• Abhishek Bachchan ... Rishi Talwar
• Preity Zinta ... Rhea Saran
• Amitabh Bachchan ... Samarjit Singh Talwar a.k.a "Sam"
• Kiron Kher ... Kamaljeet Saran
• Arjun Rampal ... Jai (Guest Appearance)
• Saira Mohan ... Catherine Cooper (Guest Appearance)
• Ahsaas Channa ... Dev and Rhea's son

Crew

• Producer: Hiroo Yash Johar
• Director:: Karan Johar
• Story: Karan Johar
• Screenplay: Karan Johar & Shibani Bathija
• Dialogues: Niranjan Iyengar
• Cinematography: Anil Mehta
• Lyricis: Javed Akhtar
• Music: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani & Loy Mendonsa
• Choreography: Farah Khan
• Editing: Sanjay Sankla
• Sound Recording: Stephen Gomes
• Production Design: Sharmishta Roy
• Costume Design: Manish Malhotra
• Make up and Styling: Mickey Contractor for MAC

Music

The film has seven songs composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy:

• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik

• Mitwa - Shafqat Amanat Ali, Shankar Mahadevan & Caralisa

• Where's The Party Tonight - Shaan, Vasundhara, Loy Mendonsa & Shankar Mahadevan

• Tumhi Dekho Naa - Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik

• Mitwa Revisited - Shafqat Amanat Ali, Shankar Mahadevan & Caralisa

• Rock 'N Roll Soniye - Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan & Mahalaxmi

• Farewell Trance - Shweta Pandit & Caralisa

Director's Note on Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

"There are three kinds of married people in the world. First, whose marriages are arranged. I've never understood that, but I'm sure they know what they're doing. Then there are those who fall in love and marry their soul mates. These few, I believe, are the most fortunate people in the world. And lastly, there are those couples that marry for their parents, for money or play it safe and marry a friend. These are the most unfortunate ones in the world... and they don't even know it. Until one day, riding the fast train of life they run into their soul mate, and are faced with the hardest question of all. What do you when you meet the love of your life and you're married to someone else? What do you do? What do you do?" - Karan Johar

Trivia

• Karan Johar has stated that Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is his original idea and refutes claims that the story has been inspired by Yash Chopra's Silsila or the Hollywoood film Closer.

• The original cast Karan Johar had in mind was, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Ajay Devgan and Rani Mukerji.

• Arjun Rampal replaced John Abraham.

• Shibani Bathija who co-wrote the screenplay of this film is also the writer of Fanaa.

• Like previous movies written by Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kaal), this one has also a four-word-title and will start with a "K".

• This movie was shot in New York City, Westchester, New Jersey, New Haven, Philadelphia and East Hartford, Connecticut from September 2005 through December 2005 and the remaining shoots were completed in Mumbai and Malaysia in 2006.

• KANK, as the acronym goes, is Karan Johar's second production after Kal Ho Naa Ho to be shot extensively in the United States but unlike Kal Ho Naa Ho in which New York City served as a character, in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, New York is only used as a fitting backdrop.

• This movie was originally slated for release in May/June 2006, however, the release date was pushed to August 2006 due to Amitabh Bachchan's hospitalization.

• Karan Johar has stated that Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna explores the darker side of human relationships and each of his characters has grey shades, unlike the previous goody-two-shoes characters in his previous feature films.

• Karan Johar has confirmed that Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna will release on August 11th 2006. The song 'Rock 'n Roll Soniye' is yet to be filmed and involves the entire cast; this song will be filmed in July.

• Sony BMG has acquired the rights for the music of this film.

• As part of a marketing campaign, Preity Zinta will appear in the popular soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to promote Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in the month of July.

• The music of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was launched in the United Kingdom on June 12 2006 and was officially released in India on June 16 2006 along with a grand music launch at the IIFA Awards function in Dubai.