Eighteen Years Ago, Om Shanti Om arrived like a firework – dazzling, vibrant, melodramatic in the best possible way and overflowing with the kind of filmi emotion that only Bollywood can deliver. Today, the film continues to live in the hearts of audiences across generations. Its recent re-release during Shah Rukh Khan film festival proved that the love for this movie has not dimmed in the slightest. Theatres were filled, people danced, lines were shouted and the screens glowed with nostalgia. Om Shanti Om isn’t just remembered – it is relived. 18 Years of Om Shanti Om!
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Directed by Farah Khan, the film was a tribute to the golden era of Hindi Cinema, wrapped inside a reincarnation thriller. And at it’s centre stood Shah Rukh Khan as Om Kapoor/Om Prakash Makhija – endearing, funny, vulnerable, heroic and completely star-like, all at once. Opposite him was Deepika Padukone, only 20 at the time, making one of the most iconic debuts in Bollywood History. Her elegance, innocence and confidence made Shanti Priya unforgettable from the very first frame.
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But behind the glitter and grandeur lies a treasure chest of filmmaking stories:
- Farah Khan originally envisioned bringing Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan together in one frame – an unreal dream cast for the ages.
- Salman Khan had finished his shoot for Deewangi Deewangi but waited three hours just to dance in the same shot as Dharmendra, out of pure love and respect.
- The famous “Naught Pussy!” line was an unscripted, spontaneous addition by SRK himself.
- The Filmfare Awards red carpet scene was shot at the actual Filmfare Awards, with Farah guiding actors live on the spot.
- The vintage cars seen in the film once belonged to Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini, adding genuine Old-Bollywood heritage to the frame.
- The climax took inspiration from Bimal Roy’s haunting 1958 classic Madhumati.
- The film set a distribution record with 2000 prints worldwide, the highest for an Indian Film then.
- Shreyas Talpade’s role grew on set because his chemistry with SRK sparkled more than expected.
Om Shanti Om is Bollywood’s love letter to itself – dramatic, musical, emotional and magical. Even after 18 Years, the film doesn’t just live on…it glitters.
18 Years of Om Shanti Om!
