'It gave me courage to tell stories that...': Karan Johar marks 18 years of 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'

Mumbai: Director Karan Johar says Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, which turned 18 on Sunday, gave him courage to tell stories about "messy but beautiful" relationships.

The 2006 romance drama explored themes of marital infidelity and dysfunctional relationships.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta and Kirron Kher, was a commercial success despite mixed reviews.

In an Instagram post, Johar said: "‘KANK’ was the road that I need not have taken but it was the best decision I made to take it...till date." "This film not only gave me the best of the times with my absolutely phenomenal cast that honestly, were more my family - but it also gave me the courage to tell stories that I put my conviction into about relationships that were messy but beautiful……just like life? Here's to 18 years of #KabhiAlvidaNaaKehna!" he added.

The director also shared a video montage featuring the behind-the-scenes of the film.

Produced under Johar's Dharma Productions, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is still remembered for its melodious songs, including 'Mitwa', 'Tumhi Dekho Na', and 'Where's The Party Tonight?', penned by Javed Akhtar and composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.