11 Aug 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : Two decades after its release, Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna remains one of Bollywood’s most debated relationship dramas. The film challenged conventional ideas of marriage and love, but it also faced criticism for romanticizing and glamorizing infidelity.
Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta, the film explored unhappy marriages, emotional loneliness and the complicated choices people make when relationships stop working.
A Story About Unhappy Marriages
At the heart of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna are Dev and Maya, two people who are unhappy in their respective marriages.
Their emotional connection gradually develops into a romantic relationship, forcing both characters to confront questions about love, commitment and whether staying in an unhappy marriage is always the right choice.
Infidelity Presented Through Romance
One of the film’s most controversial aspects was the way Dev and Maya’s affair was presented.
The lavish locations, glamorous styling, emotional music and star power gave their relationship a romantic sheen, potentially making the affair appear more sympathetic and desirable than its consequences might suggest.
Karan Johar Challenged Traditional Morality
At the same time, the film did not simply celebrate cheating.
Johar presented marriage as a complicated institution and explored the emotional damage caused by relationships in which partners feel disconnected.
The film’s willingness to portray marital dissatisfaction was considered bold for mainstream Hindi cinema at the time.
The Cost of the Affair
The story also shows that the relationship between Dev and Maya comes at a significant emotional cost.
Their choices hurt their spouses and families, while the characters themselves face guilt, conflict and social consequences.
This complexity prevents the film from being viewed as a straightforward endorsement of infidelity.
Why the Film Still Divides Audiences
Twenty years later, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna continues to generate debate because it sits between two interpretations.
For some viewers, it is a progressive story about choosing genuine love over an unhappy marriage. For others, its glamorous treatment of an affair softens the moral and emotional consequences of cheating.
A Film That Invited Difficult Conversations
Whatever one’s interpretation, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna pushed Bollywood audiences to discuss subjects that mainstream romantic cinema often avoided.
Its legacy lies partly in that willingness to question whether marriage, love and personal happiness must always exist within conventional boundaries.