Like Twitter trends will tell you, today marks Jab We Met’s 13th birthday and I thought why not take the opportunity to talk about the Imtiaz Ali film. If you must know, it not only changed the Bollywood career trajectories of Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan but also changed how I, a cine buff, look at romantic comedies. That and their longevity in the ever-evolving world of love and relationships. It’s true that a lot of films have tried to re-create the magic that JWM did 13 years ago, working hard, trying to crack the formula and fit it into a prototype. But it is safe to say that none of them have come close to the cult status that is enjoyed by the film. No, wonder it is a fan favourite!
So, without much ado, here are 13 reasons why Jab We Met is a gift that keeps giving…
1. It gave us the iconic character of all times – Geet. She who taught us to be our own favourite without any doubt in the dil. She who gave wings to many acting dreams and she who became a benchmark of the perfect pitch for Bollywood fantasies of many (including current B-town actresses).
2. Some even more memorable geets that are ageing like wine and even getting better (?) with each listen. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about your crush, while humming to Tum Se Hi on a rainy day. Also, Pritam at his best (when he is not picking tunes/taking inspiration).
3. Not to mention, the token dialogues that we fondly borrow every now and then. Be it to engage in harmless flirting by telling them that they deserve to be put in a museum and paise lagne chhaiye dekhne ke liye or to give someone a piece of one’s mind with a rather stone-cold chillar nahi hai for every unsolicited advice; they are apt till date and will remain so even after 13 more years.
4. The Aditya of one’s dreams. Enough said. But if you still insist; we finally got your average height angry young man who gets wiser with heartbreaks and thrives with self-awareness. He can take a ‘NO’ basically.
5. Filmiest love saga which goes through a metamorphosis only to become the most romantic love story. Which brings us to Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor’s obvious yet refreshing chemistry. Both the actors channeled all they had within to create two real, vulnerable and relatable characters.
6. The immaculate writing and emotive storytelling of Imtiaz Ali, even before he PhD’ed the genre of lost man-child who finds himself after stumbling upon love. No, this was about the regular jilted lover who forgets about his grief cause he meets a girl who won’t shut up. Also, find me a better trio, I’ll wait.
7. While we are still at writing, I’m taking this moment to mention a few notable characters that truly supported the lead. From Geet’s cousin Roop to her useless boyfriend Anshuman who hates ganne ke khet among other things, these parts accentuated the plot and how. Not to mention Darji aka Dara Singh; like Geet mentioned, lead pair ke saath supporting cast muft, muft muft!
8. Did you also pick up the hook steps of Mauja Hi Mauja and Yeh Ishq Haye and inserted in every song you would dance to or were you normal? Some of the best Saroj Khan steps hands down!
9. Yeah, I was obsessed with Geet’s sartorial choices. Her fashion became a major calling for me with big silver danglers and all that jazz but nothing compares to the mood that was/is Patiala pants and t-shirt combo. What a revolutionary pyjama set that didn’t let one compromise on taste. I’d have shown you a picture, if I could.
10. It is only today that the no-make up look is talked about but mind you, Bebo did it in Jab We Met even before it was cool. A fresh face with a hint of red on the nails and you’re good to pull your face muscles down while doing the oh-my-God look.
11. The more I think, the more I’m convinced that I don’t know a single person who hasn’t used the title Jab We Met as a titular reference to something/someone in their life at least once, to be very honest. Be it captions on Instagram or a journal entry, the emo kid in you has the count.
12. Which brings us to (takes us back to the time) when Kapoor and Kapoor met. IDK about you but I was a Shahid+Kareena shipper and the just the thought that the film is the last they will ever be seen as an on-screen pair gives me them feels. They were/are the Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston of Bollywood, NGL.
13. Sometimes taking the wrong train can make you land at the right place. And, pardon my French, it took us this too-fucking-good-a-film to understand that. While he had seen shades of serendipity, the colloquial ways and manners really made a lasting impression in more ways than one. And that probably, is the biggest takeaway of the film.
So, aap convince ho gaye? Ya main aur bolun?
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Cover Image: Bhavya Poonia/Mashable India
