EXCLUSIVE: Rakesh Roshan talks about Karan Arjun’s re-release; reveals, “They were not twins. But woh pata chal jaata hai ki Karan (Salman Khan) is elder while Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) is younger”

During the 25th anniversary of Karan Arjun (1995) in January 2020, Rakesh Roshan spoke extensively to this writer for an exclusive Bollywood Hungama interview about the Shah Rukh Khan-Salman Khan starrer, its casting, shooting experiences, craze generated by the film in cinemas, etc. That interview, in the years to come, became a go-to article for journalists to research about the film’s making and also for fans to find out fascinating trivia about their favourite film. Karan Arjun re-releases on November 22 and this time, Rakesh Roshan shared some more interesting stuff about the film and also the re-release strategy.You revealed earlier that the original title was Kaaynaat and then it was changed to Karan Arjun. Were the protagonists called Karan and Arjun from day 1?Yes. When we wrote the script, their names were always Karan and Arjun. When my dialogue writer Anwar Khan went through the script 4-5 times before writing the dialogues, he told me, ‘Bahut ajeeb kisam ki kahani hai! Mujhe dialogues likhne bhi bahut takleef hone waali hai’. At the same time, he also remarked that the script is simple and that people would be able to understand it. But he said, ‘Lekin Kaaynaat jaisa title logon ko samaj mein nahin aayega’. When I asked him for a title suggestion, he suggested that the film should be called Karan Arjun. I realized that this new title sounds very rhythmic. That’s how the title was locked.Hrithik Roshan recently wrote on an Instagram post how the ‘Bhaag Arjun bhaag’ scene was cracked. Which was the most difficult scene to write?The whole story and screenplay are difficult to write as it was new. We had no references. Everything was organic. Thankfully, apne aap hi cheezein aati gayi.Many reincarnation films suffered as the two eras looked similar. In Karan Arjun, I noticed that you showed only camel carts and horses in the flashback track while in the present track, we see four-wheelers...Yes. More than two decades had passed since Karan and Arjun were reborn and turned into adults. Hence, I showed Thakur owned jeeps and other four-wheelers by then. You observed it well!Were Karan and Arjun twins? Who was the elder brother?No, they were not twins. But woh pata chal jaata hai ki Karan (Salman Khan) is elder while Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) is younger.There were no vanity vans then. How was it to shoot without it and where did the actors relax in between shots?The actors would sit outside on the chairs under the umbrella or we would arrange for a tent. Since everyone would sit together, we used to feel like we belonged to a family. Hence, when Shah Rukh and Salman are talking to each other, you can sense some kind of bond between them. Agar woh apne vanity van mein baithe hote, toh woh bonding nahin aati. But since we were having breakfast, lunch and dinner together, it was possible.Did Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan charge reasonably?Yes. Then, there were relatively new and upcoming stars. Nevertheless, it was a big-budget film for me. It was mounted on a huge scale.The action is superb and makes for a great watch even today...That’s because everything was done manually. There was no green screen and that’s why, the action looks believable. Otherwise, today the hero single-handedly bashes up 10 people. Woh 10 log udd ke girte hai jaise hawa mein koi panchi udd rahe ho! In some film, I saw one person jump from one building to another via a helicopter.Did the success of Rockstar and Laila Majnu inspire you to re-release Karan Arjun?No. Karan Arjun complete 30 years in January 2025 and also Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000) will complete 25 years in the same month. I realized that I couldn’t re-release both films together. Hence, I decided to re-release Karan Arjun first.Tell us the process of re-releasing and remastering a film...The sound was in mono. I had to convert it to Dolby 5.1. I did the whole DI of the film, so that visually, it looks new. As for publicity, I followed the same strategy which I applied back then. I made posters and for single screens, I made six sheeters. In multiplexes, I put up backlit cutouts and standees. In short, aaj ka aur purane zamaane ke strategies ko mix karke I planned the publicity!Why has this re-release trend picked up suddenly this year according to you?I don’t know exactly but I guess there weren’t enough new releases and theatres wanted films. Hence, I believe the multiplexes pushed some makers to re-release their old classics. That started the trend.Earlier, re-releases used to be successful as it was not easy to access a film. Today, all the films, which are being re-released, are easily available online and yet, people are flocking to cinemas to see them. Why is it happening?Because there’s a charm in watching movies on the big screen. When you watch a film on your desktop or laptop and then you go and see the same film on the big screen, there’s a lot of difference. When I upgraded the sound to 5.1, I decided to see some reels in PVR to see how it felt. I got goosebumps! I was stunned by the sound and the film’s look.How much time it took you to remaster the film?I worked on it for nearly 3-4 months.Karan Arjun’s shows played at 2:00 am upon its release due to an insane demand. Would you like to have post-midnight shows with the re-release of Karan Arjun?(Smiles) No. I don’t think there would be such a craze for the film. It’s not like I am releasing a new film. Krrish 4 release kar raha hota toh dusri baat hai. Karan Arjun dekhi hui film hai. If it collects 1% of its original collections, it’ll mean a lot.What will you do on November 22?I’ll call you to find out the reports (laughs).What do you usually do when a film releases?I attend to call from the distributors to find out about the occupancy and collections.This time, you won’t have to check the reviews, right?Yes, this time uska tension nahin (laughs). In case somebody writes a negative review, woh koi padhega bhi nahin.Also Read: Karan Arjun trailer: Hrithik Roshan pays Homage with a Voice-over to Rakesh Roshan’s CULT CLASSIC Starring Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan

During the 25th anniversary of Karan Arjun (1995) in January 2020, Rakesh Roshan spoke extensively to this writer for an exclusive Bollywood Hungama interview about the Shah Rukh Khan-Salman Khan starrer, its casting, shooting experiences, craze generated by the film in cinemas, etc. That interview, in the years to come, became a go-to article for journalists to research about the film’s making and also for fans to find out fascinating trivia about their favourite film. Karan Arjun re-releases on November 22 and this time, Rakesh Roshan shared some more interesting stuff about the film and also the re-release strategy.

You revealed earlier that the original title was Kaaynaat and then it was changed to Karan Arjun . Were the protagonists called Karan and Arjun from day 1? Yes. When we wrote the script, their names were always Karan and Arjun.

When my dialogue writer Anwar Khan went through the script 4-5 times before writing the dialogues, he told me, ‘ Bahut ajeeb kisam ki kahani hai! Mujhe dialogues likhne bhi bahut takleef hone waali hai’ . At the same time, he also remarked that the script is simple and that people would be able to understand it. But he said, ‘ Lekin Kaaynaat jaisa title logon ko samaj mein nahin aayega’ .

When I asked him for a title suggestion, he suggested that the film should be called Karan Arjun . I realized that this new title sounds very rhythmic. That’s how the title was locked.

Hrithik Roshan recently wrote on an Instagram post how the ‘ Bhaag Arjun bhaag’ scene was cracked. Which was the most difficult scene to write? The whole story and screenplay are difficult to write as it was new. We had no references.

Everything was organic. Thankfully, apne aap hi cheezein aati gayi . Many reincarnation films suffered as the two eras looked similar.

In Karan Arjun , I noticed that you showed only camel carts and horses in the flashback track while in the present track, we see four-wheelers...

Yes. More than two decades had passed since Karan and Arjun were reborn and turned into adults. Hence, I showed Thakur owned jeeps and other four-wheelers by then.

You observed it well! Were Karan and Arjun twins? Who was the elder brother? No, they were not twins. But woh pata chal jaata hai ki Karan (Salman Khan) is elder while Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) is younger. There were no vanity vans then.

How was it to shoot without it and where did the actors relax in between shots? The actors would sit outside on the chairs under the umbrella or we would arrange for a tent. Since everyone would sit together, we used to feel like we belonged to a family. Hence, when Shah Rukh and Salman are talking to each other, you can sense some kind of bond between them.

Agar woh apne vanity van mein baithe hote, toh woh bonding nahin aati . But since we were having breakfast, lunch and dinner together, it was possible. Did Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan charge reasonably? Yes.

Then, there were relatively new and upcoming stars. Nevertheless, it was a big-budget film for me. It was mounted on a huge scale.

The action is superb and makes for a great watch even today...

That’s because everything was done manually. There was no green screen and that’s why, the action looks believable. Otherwise, today the hero single-handedly bashes up 10 people.

Woh 10 log udd ke girte hai jaise hawa mein koi panchi udd rahe ho ! In some film, I saw one person jump from one building to another via a helicopter. Did the success of Rockstar and Laila Majnu inspire you to re-release Karan Arjun ? No. Karan Arjun complete 30 years in January 2025 and also Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000) will complete 25 years in the same month.

I realized that I couldn’t re-release both films together. Hence, I decided to re-release Karan Arjun first. Tell us the process of re-releasing and remastering a film.

.. The sound was in mono.

I had to convert it to Dolby 5.1. I did the whole DI of the film, so that visually, it looks new.

As for publicity, I followed the same strategy which I applied back then. I made posters and for single screens, I made six sheeters. In multiplexes, I put up backlit cutouts and standees.

In short, aaj ka aur purane zamaane ke strategies ko mix karke I planned the publicity! Why has this re-release trend picked up suddenly this year according to you? I don’t know exactly but I guess there weren’t enough new releases and theatres wanted films. Hence, I believe the multiplexes pushed some makers to re-release their old classics. That started the trend.

Earlier, re-releases used to be successful as it was not easy to access a film. Today, all the films, which are being re-released, are easily available online and yet, people are flocking to cinemas to see them. Why is it happening? Because there’s a charm in watching movies on the big screen.

When you watch a film on your desktop or laptop and then you go and see the same film on the big screen, there’s a lot of difference. When I upgraded the sound to 5.1, I decided to see some reels in PVR to see how it felt.

I got goosebumps! I was stunned by the sound and the film’s look. How much time it took you to remaster the film? I worked on it for nearly 3-4 months. Karan Arjun ’s shows played at 2:00 am upon its release due to an insane demand.

Would you like to have post-midnight shows with the re-release of Karan Arjun? (Smiles) No. I don’t think there would be such a craze for the film. It’s not like I am releasing a new film.

Krrish 4 release kar raha hota toh dusri baat hai. Karan Arjun dekhi hui film hai . If it collects 1% of its original collections, it’ll mean a lot.

What will you do on November 22? I’ll call you to find out the reports (laughs). What do you usually do when a film releases? I attend to call from the distributors to find out about the occupancy and collections. This time, you won’t have to check the reviews, right? Yes, this time uska tension nahin (laughs).

In case somebody writes a negative review, woh koi padhega bhi nahin . Also Read: Karan Arjun trailer: Hrithik Roshan pays Homage with a Voice-over to Rakesh Roshan’s CULT CLASSIC Starring Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan More Pages: Karan Arjun Box Office Collection BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES Catch us for latest Bollywood News , New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection , New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi , Entertainment News , Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama..