19 years ago today… Revisiting ‘Karan Arjun’

Release date: 13 January 1995

Director: Rakesh Roshan

*ing: Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Raakhee, Mamta Kulkarni, Amrish Puri

19 years ago, when ��Karan Arjun�۪ (1995) hit the theatres, no one would have known that so many years later, the actors who played male leads would still be dominating the industry with huge fan followings and a very many successful films to their names. However, when one looks back, it is evident that this film was one that helped shape a certain kind of cinema and ��Karan Arjun�۪ is still remembered today lovingly by both fans and the industry.

��Karan Arjun�۪ is a story about reincarnation. When her two sons, Karan (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan), are killed in front of her by Durjan Singh (Amrish Puri) after her husband is also killed, Durga (Rakhee) is in a state of disbelief. She continues her prayers from the moment they die that God has to bring the back. Miraculously, Karan and Arjun are born again to unrelated families with no knowledge of their past. When Durga comes to know of this happening, she eventually gets the help of Karan and Arjun as they become aware of their rebirth and she gets them to fight Durjan.

Both Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan were less than a decade into their careers and so this two-hero film served them well back when it released. Salman�۪s innocence and mischievous nature is there for all to see whereas Shah Rukh�۪s romantic persona was also beginning to be seen ��� especially as this film released in the same year as ��Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge�۪. The music of the movie also did well with Bhangra Paale and Jaati Hoon Mein being particular favourites with the youth.

��Karan Arjun�۪ can, arguably, be seen as a cult classic for those who were the youth at the time this released. Raakhee�۪s rendition as the lovetorn mother who was in a desperate state to get revenge on the man who had caused her loved ones�۪ deaths is remembered even today with the dialogue ��Mere Karan Arjun aayenge�۪ being used comically in various places. Amrish Puri played his antagonist role with much horror in a way only he was known for.

The movie is one in a string of films which made the jodi of Shah Rukh and Kajol so popular, more so because this was their third film together post ��Baazigar�۪ (1993) and ��Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge�۪. Mamta Kulkarni, who made her first impact opposite Saif Ali Khan in 1993�۪s ��Aashiq Awara�۪ (which was the fourth release of her career), was Salman�۪s love interest in the film and did well to be included in and noticed amongst an otherwise strong star cast.

Salman and Shah Rukh�۪s collaboration on screen continued beyond this 1995 beginning. However, in recent years the two have had a much publicised fall-out which means ��Karan Arjun�۪ is now somewhat of a novelty. One can only thank director and producer Rakesh Roshan for bringing together these two legends on celluloid even before the were legends.