The year was 2000, and on the brink of the new millennium, a new star was born – Hrithik Roshan.
With his hazel eyes and boyish charm, the 27-year-old created a buzz right from his first shot. And it was only going to get bigger and better with many of the trends that started with this romantic saga.
From the costumes to the music, the picturesque locations and the sizzling chemistry between Ameesha Patel and Hrithik Roshan.
had an exclusive conversation with ndtvRakesh Roshan went down memory lane while talking about the first scene he shot for the film.
‘Want an attractive boy next door’
He says, “Hrithik gets up from the bed and removes the blanket, and that was his introduction. Any other filmmaker launching a newcomer would have him jumping from the 30th floor, or riding a horse or on a bike. But I He was introduced just to make the audience feel like he’s the boy next door.”
It was a classic story of a romantic movie of the 2000s, in which a lower middle class automobile executive named Rohit (Hrithik Roshan) falls in love with Sonia, who comes from an affluent background. As fate would have it, they fall hopelessly in love.
Because of Rohit’s love for music, the boy brings the missing pieces of love, warmth and happiness of small things into her life.
When Rohit dies untimely, Sonia’s heart breaks into pieces, leaving everything shattered.
She was then sent to New Zealand to live with her cousin to recover from her heartbreak.
But as fate would have it, she meets Raj Chopra (Hrithik Roshan in a double role), who is Sonia’s cousin’s friend, and also the mirror image of her now deceased lover Rohit.
extraordinary feature of say no…i love youIt was an original story of love and loss. But filled with stunning locations and groovy music, it is considered an irreplaceable chartbuster till date.
Be it the romantic beaches of Thailand, or the lush landscapes of New Zealand, unsurprisingly, say no…i love you Pop culture had a major influence on how Bollywood inspires wanderlust.
bringing new zealand to india
New Zealand Tourism, in particular, became a household name after its release say no…i love youAfter the interval, a large part of the film was shot extensively in beautiful locations.
popular romantic song neither you nor we know Was shot in Christchurch.
The gorgeous lakes, snow-capped peaks and winding valleys add to the visual splendor of the film.
in general knowledge section ImdbOne user shared how New Zealand became a favorite destination for tourists after the huge success of the film. The number of permits and visas for Indian students also saw a rapid increase.
Rakesh Roshan reacted on location playing such an important role in the film.
He says, “Yes, I really liked New Zealand as a location to shoot. I went in February or March, and we had to shoot there for the first 50 days. When I was landing there, the flight told me All that was visible were brown spots and no greenery, but when I inspected earlier, everything was green.”
He further says, ‘Then I realized that I had come in the wrong season for the shooting, then from the airport I called the production team because they had to leave late at night and I canceled the entire shooting. “With tickets for 150 people and their accommodation arrangements, we had to reschedule it for 3-4 months later.”
timeless music
Then the conversation turned to the Cracker Music album. Go to any club with a 2000s Bollywood theme and catchy tunes There is only a moment to life, in the boat of loveand this say no…i love you The title track, still gets the crowd going.
Hrithik Roshan’s uncle Rajesh Roshan was the music composer of this film.
Rakesh Roshan says, “We worked very hard on the music. We brought in many new voices like Lucky Ali for Raj (Hrithik Roshan’s lookalike) and Udit Narayan for Rohit (Hrithik Roshan).”
Kaho Na Pyaar Hai Title Track ❤️🔥
The film’s soundtrack album sold approximately 8.5 to 10 million units and became the best-selling Bollywood soundtrack of the decade so far.#HrithikRoshan𓃵 #sayloveis https://t.co/9Frcc9ScFg pic.twitter.com/rHgAPFjGJB
– Fighter (@45RohiRat18Fan) 21 April 2024
Rakesh Roshan says, “The songs were made according to the story and the youth. Both Hrithik and Ameesha were young and the songs were made for their generation. We didn’t know that the songs would be so popular; we just did it.” The regular filmmakers are selecting the songs that work best for us, and working on picturisation.”
“But I made sure I shot the songs very well. I paid full attention to the songs because I loved the album. I said the songs were good and I wanted to give it my best by shooting it on a ship, on an island. Someone And New Zealand which was an unknown area at that time, so the world will see these places that were unknown at that time.”
And the efforts indeed succeeded.
From Hrithik Roshan’s dance moves on the cruise to the magical tunes, to the hook step going viral from the title track. Raj and Sonia’s new love blossoms on the pristine beaches of Krabi, Thailand, against the backdrop of unforgettable songs.
25 years of Hrithik Roshan
When the film re-released in theaters on January 10, 2025, Hrithik Roshan held a meet and greet session with the media. It marks 25 years of Hrithik Roshan, and it was time to celebrate our own ‘Greek God’. Because what a journey it has been.
Hrithik told the media, “25 years! I remember 25 years ago, when say no…i love you After being released, I was so shy and so anxious that I didn’t give a single interview. I didn’t come out of my house to do anything. I left the entire campaign program. 25 years have passed and unfortunately, that side of me hasn’t changed. “I’m still just as shy.”
9 am show on the first day
What was the atmosphere like on the day of its release in 2000?
He says, “The first calls came from the distributors because they did not expect the film to do so well. They kept the 9 am show even though I had asked them not to do so. I told them to keep the regular show. But because there was a demand for the film due to the promos and songs working among the audience and Hrithik’s dancing skills, they kept the 9 am show.”
He adds, “And right from 9 in the morning, the film started making waves, and every distributor was calling me. At that time, the media responded a little late, but in the first 2-3 days, my distributors The film didn’t do 100% collection in theaters and after a week, I was shot, so I was in the hospital.”
For those unaware, Rakesh Roshan was shot in broad daylight after the release of the film. This happened outside his office in Mumbai.
The 75-year-old filmmaker said in subsequent interviews that the attack was led by the underworld, which had a widespread presence in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He said that the underworld wants to make a film with Hrithik, which they will finance. Upon his refusal, they set out to attack him, despite the director never giving them any indication that Hrithik would be interested in it.
It’s been a tough journey, but it’s been worth it.
‘Hrithik has learned all this by himself’
Every budding actor is nervous on the eve of the release of his film.
We asked Rakesh Roshan if he ever prepared Hrithik before starting his film journey.
The director replied, “I never gave any advice to Hrithik; he learned it all by himself. He has been assisting me for 4 years, and I think he has learned and absorbed everything from there. I I know Hrithik very well, and Hrithik also knows me.” Knows me very well, I know his plus and minus points, and vice versa, so we make a good combination of plus and minus.”
say no…i love you It was an outrage then, and now a celebration, all in remembrance of innocent times and storytelling.
25 years later, the only response say no…i love you Still shouting-where is love,
