KAL HO NAA HO Producer: Yash Johar Director: Nikhil Advani Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Jaya Bachchan. UK Release 28 November 2003

Nikhil Advani, the latest entrant to join the group of young filmmakers who are giving a different, youthful, modern and fresh perspective to the Hindi commercial film industry. An expert when dealing with foreign locations Nikhil was asked by Yash Johar to helm the next venture to be produced by Dharma Productions written by Karan Johar and completely set in New York - Kal Ho Naa Ho.

The entire narration moves around four main characters that of:

Jenny Kapur (Jaya Bachchan) - Life has not been easy for Jenny Kapur, Naina's mother. Ever since her husband's tragic death she has been struggling with the family's finances, taking care of her disabled son and adopted daughter, facing the bitter anger of a mother-in-law who blames her for her son's death. Naina is always there to support Jenny and share her burden. Mother and daughter share a deep understanding of each other's pain, fears and hopes.

Aman Mathur (Shahruklh Khan) - Aman is like Pied Piper. A man who has a magical aura around him. Who has the ability to sway people and make them do what he wants. It is this quality that enables Aman to infiltrate easily into the lives of the Kapurs and totally win them over. Even in the case of Naina, although she resists him in the beginning she eventually falls for his questionably charming ways. He is rude and has an arrogant streak. Qualities that are extremely dislikable in a prson, but in Aman they look very endearing. As a result Aman is the type of person who says and does what he wants and surprisingly always seems to get away with it. He adds colour into the lives of the people that he comes into contact with.

Naina Catherine Kapur (Preity Zinta) - Naina is extremely boring and dull. She is a girl whose life is devoid of any fun and adventure. A girl who never smiles or laughs. Who takes herself and the predicament that she is in extremely seriously. Someone who has completely resigned herself to her destiny. Obviously therefore, her first reaction to Aman, who is her complete opposite is complete and utter hatred. It does not help that Aman is always sure that he knows what is best for Naina and worse still that he does not hesitate to voice his opinions. The fact that her family is completely enthralled by him also makes it impossible for her to continue resisting his charming ways. But falling in love is not always as easy as it seems and that is something that Naina finds out and has to deal with. Letting down her guard, smiling, laughing and trying to be the girl that she should be suddenly brings a whole new set of problems in to her life.

Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan) - Rohit is the 'poor' little 'rich' Gujarati boy. He lives alone in a huge studio apartment in Manhattan, but misses his mom and is woken up every morning by his childhood nanny Kantaben. He dresses stylishly, has a great job and wines and dines in the most hip and happening restaurants in New York, but usually alone. The thing is that Rohit has a way that most women seem to dislike. He never knows when something is enough. The only person who seems to tolerate his behaviour surprisingly is the one person who would have normally abhorred it - Naina. He somehow allows her to slip once in a while into the world that she should be in. His failures with the various women seem to amuse her otherwise colourless life. However, what she does not seem to realize and what he has always hidden from her is that secretly he is in love with only one girl - Naina.

Kal Ho Naa Ho is the story of Aman, Rohit and Naina's journey together - how they discover themselves, find the courage to love and come together to celebrate life. New York, April 2003, the late winter continues...

For Naina Catherine Kapur, life is cold grey and dull - as it has been ever since a family tragedy shook her world. Between the constant bickering in her half Punjabi half Catholic household, her grandmother temper's, looking after her little sister and brother and helping her mother Jenny deal with the family's financial troubles - Naina has no time for things like parties, fun... or herself. She's twenty-three going on fifty. She is serious. She is boring.

Enter Aman Mathur like a whiff of fresh air, he moves into their tiny Indian neighbourhood to take it over. Helping others solve their problems, face life's little changes - Aman has all the answers. Much to Naina's irritation, he insists on interfering in her life too...

Aman pushes Naina into doing things she would never dream of doing. He nags her till she learns to smile. He conspires with friend Rohit, an eligible Manhattan bachelor - to help her find happiness.

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