Twenty-five years after its release, Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai continues to attract attention for its fresh take on friendship, relationships and the challenges of growing up.
The 2001 film, which marked Akhtar’s debut as a filmmaker, is remembered for its portrayal of close friendship, road trips, changing relationships and the uncertainties of young adulthood. But one of its most notable themes was the unconventional romance between Siddharth, played by Akshaye Khanna, and Tara Jaiswal, portrayed by Dimple Kapadia.
Siddharth is shown as a quiet, thoughtful painter who develops feelings for Tara, a divorced, middle-aged interior designer who lives alone. Their relationship challenged the usual idea of what an acceptable romantic pairing should look like in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Rather than focusing on a conventional love story, the film explored how emotional connection can develop between two people from different generations.
Siddharth’s relationship with Tara grows through their conversations about art, books and life. His approach to love is also different from that of his two close friends, Akash, played by Aamir Khan, and Sameer, played by Saif Ali Khan.
When Siddharth’s mother and friends object to his feelings for Tara, he refuses to hide them or apologize for falling in love.
His relationship with Akash becomes strained after Akash makes fun of his feelings. His mother also questions his decision, reflecting the social pressure surrounding relationships that do not fit traditional expectations.
Tara herself initially rejects Siddharth’s feelings. She tells him that his emotions are unrealistic and insists that she never encouraged him or gave him false hope. Her reaction reflects the same social concerns that trouble those around Siddharth.
But Siddharth remains firm about his feelings. For him, love is not something that can always be explained through age, social expectations or conventional ideas.
The film therefore raises a broader question about why people fall in love and whether love can always be judged through logic.
The story also follows the friendship of Siddharth, Akash and Sameer as they navigate personal changes, relationships and self-discovery. Set partly against the scenic backdrop of Goa, the film combines humour and friendship with more serious questions about love and life.
Tara’s struggle with alcohol eventually leads to her death, marking a major turning point for Siddharth. Her death leaves him with a deeper understanding of life and forces him to move forward while holding on to the feelings he had for her.
The film’s treatment of Siddharth and Tara’s relationship was considered unusual for mainstream Hindi cinema at the time. Instead of presenting their age difference as the sole focus, Akhtar placed greater emphasis on their emotional connection.
That approach helped Dil Chahta Hai challenge some traditional ideas about romance and relationships.
The film’s music also played an important role in expressing Siddharth’s feelings. The song Kaisi Hai Yeh Rut, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, captured the quiet and unspoken side of his affection for Tara.
Twenty-five years later, Dil Chahta Hai remains relevant not only for its memorable friendship and youthful energy but also for the way it explored relationships that did not fit conventional expectations.
Its enduring appeal may lie in that very imperfection — characters who make mistakes, relationships that do not always work out and emotions that cannot always be explained logically.
Source: NDTV