ANI Photo | Farhan Akhtar marks 25 years of ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ directorial debut
Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ has reached its 25th anniversary on January 31, 2026. Sharing the film’s poster on Instagram, Farhan wrote, “Can’t believe it’s been 25 years.. Akash, Sameer and Sid don’t look like they’ve aged a day!!!! Heart filled with gratitude to you, the audience, for keeping it alive and still relevant. Big hug.”
Written and directed by Farhan Akhtar, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ stars Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia. The Bollywood comedy-drama was initially released in 2001 and received acclaim for its compelling storyline, strong performances, and memorable music. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
The film was mainly shot in urban locations across Australia and Mumbai and was noted for resonating more with urban audiences than rural ones. It follows three best friends as they navigate love, friendship, and the challenges of life after graduation.
On the same day, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani announced the launch of ‘Excel Origins’ via their social media posts. This new initiative by Excel Entertainment aims to discover and support emerging storytellers.
The project will focus on filmmakers under 30, identifying young directors and writers with distinctive voices and providing them with the platform, resources, and creative freedom to develop original ideas. ‘Excel Origins’ seeks stories that challenge convention across genres, formats, and new cinematic worlds while creating opportunities for emerging actors and creative talent.
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