The Edinburgh International Film Festival has confirmed an anniversary screening of Karan Johar's 1998 Bollywood hit, partly shot in Scotland, at its 2028 edition after talks in Mumbai with Scotland's First Minister.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival confirmed on Friday that a special 30th anniversary celebration of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will screen as part of its 2028 edition. The 1998 film was Karan Johar's first as director and stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji, with Salman Khan as Anjali's fiancé. Johar is set to attend, and other guests will also join the screening. Dates for the 2028 festival have not yet been announced.
According to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Johar received the invitation earlier this week at a meeting he hosted at the Mumbai offices of his company, Dharma Productions. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and David Smith, interim executive director of Screen Scotland, took part. The talks centred on Scotland as a location and partner for Indian film and television, including production, co-production, talent development and cultural exchange. Swinney said he was delighted that Johar had accepted the invitation and described Scotland's screen industry as a promising creative partner for Indian productions.
The festival links the film to Scotland because it was the first major Indian production to shoot extensively there, using locations including Eilean Donan Castle, Glen Coe, Tantallon Castle and Inchmahome Priory. Festival director Paul Ridd called the screening a chance to celebrate a much-loved film and said 2028 will be the festival's 81st edition. Before then, the 80th Edinburgh International Film Festival is due to run from 12 to 18 August 2027, with submissions opening in January. The festival returned in 2024 under Ridd and producer Emma Boa and is backed by Screen Scotland.
