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Kunal Kohli, often hailed as Bollywood’s ‘King of Romance’, is the creative force behind four Yash Raj Films blockbusters, including the Filmfare Award-winning Hum Tum and the fantasy gem Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Born on October 28, 1970, Kunal Kohli has carved a special place for himself in the world of romantic storytelling. His mother, Yash Kohli, was an ardent admirer of Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor, and thus named her son after Shashi Kapoor’s child, Kunal. Before venturing into television, Kunal Kohli directed over 20 music videos, working with singers such as Alka Yagnik and Bally Sagoo. He made his television debut with the serial Trikon, and soon after, entered Bollywood with Yash Raj Films’ Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002), starring Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukerji, and Kareena Kapoor. Although the film underperformed in India, it found success overseas. National recognition came with the 2004 Hindi film Hum Tum, a refreshing romantic comedy featuring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji. The film became a major hit and earned Kunal Kohli the Filmfare Award for Best Director, beating none other than Yash Chopra’s Veer-Zaara. He followed this with the 2006 thriller-romance Fanaa, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol, which was a resounding success both domestically and internationally. Later, Kunal Kohli established his own production banner, Kunal Kohli Productions, debuting with Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008). He has since explored multiple creative avenues, including writing, acting, and even directing South Indian films such as Next Enti. Among Bollywood’s most influential romantic comedies, Hum Tum stands tall; a film that redefined love stories for a new generation. So impactful was its narrative that it found a place in film critic Shubhra Gupta’s book 50 Films That Changed Bollywood. Yet, its journey to success was far from easy. At the time, Yash Raj Films was known for grand, traditional love sagas. When Kunal Kohli approached Yash Chopra with a light-hearted, Western-style romantic comedy, the veteran filmmaker was sceptical. He later recalled that Yash Chopra had joked about his previous film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, saying Hum Tum looked like Mughal-e-Azam in comparison, a remark that reflected his doubts about a dialogue-driven film with no heavy drama or action. To test the young director’s conviction, Yash Chopra sanctioned a modest Rs 7.5 crore budget, significantly lower than other YRF projects like Dhoom or Veer-Zaara, and warned that he would not lend his name as producer if the film failed to impress. With this challenge, Kunal Kohli shot across Delhi and Amsterdam with Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji, working under immense pressure. Saif Ali Khan initially hesitated, unsure of the director’s faith in him. However, the final result silenced all doubts. When Yash Chopra watched the completed film, he was deeply moved. He reportedly embraced Kunal Kohli and said, “You were right, I was wrong. This is a beautiful film — and I’ll proudly put my name on it.” Hum Tum went on to become a box office triumph, earning over four times its budget and securing Kunal Kohli’s legacy as one of Bollywood’s most innovative storytellers.
