Key Points
- The 1998 Bollywood romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will screen at the 81st Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2028 to mark its 30th anniversary. Gulf News
- Director Karan Johar accepted an invitation to attend the event during a meeting at Dharma Productions in Mumbai with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Screen Scotland officials. Big News Network.com
- Production for the film took place across several Scottish sites, including Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, Tantallon Castle, and Inchmahome Priory. Box Office Worldwide
- The screening aims to build closer cultural and film production links between India and Scotland.
Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily) October 30, 2026 – As reported by Patrick Frater of Variety, the landmark 1998 Hindi blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai will receive a official 30th-anniversary screening at the 81st Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2028, with director Karan Johar confirmed to attend the event.
What prompted the official invitation from Scottish authorities? As detailed by Harsh Tiwari of The Print, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and David Smith, interim executive director of Screen Scotland, personally extended the invitation to Johar during a diplomatic meeting hosted at the Dharma Productions headquarters in Mumbai.
“I look forward to welcoming him to Edinburgh,” stated First Minister John Swinney, expressing his delight that Johar accepted the invitation to mark the milestone event in Scotland.
How significant were Scottish locations to the original production? As reported by Neha Gupta of Box Office Worldwide, several of the movie’s most iconic song sequences were filmed across scenic landscapes in Scotland, establishing a long-standing visual association between Indian cinema and Scottish tourism. Key filming locations included Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle, Tantallon Castle, and Inchmahome Priory.
What statement did the festival directors issue regarding the special screening? As reported by Alex Ritman of The Hollywood Reporter, EIFF Director Paul Ridd confirmed that the festival will celebrate the film’s enduring legacy during its 81st edition in August 2028.
“We can’t wait for what promises to be something truly special for our 81st edition in 2028,” remarked Paul Ridd during the official festival announcement.
Who starred in the original film and what was its commercial impact? As reported by The Chenab Times, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, and Salman Khan.
The film grossed over Rs 100 crore worldwide against a production budget of Rs 10 crore and earned the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment in 2000.
Background Of The Particular Development
Released in October 1998, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai marked the directorial debut of Karan Johar and established Dharma Productions as a dominant force in mainstream Indian cinema.
The story, centred on a multi-generational love triangle and themes of friendship, proved to be a major cultural phenomenon across South Asia and international diaspora markets.
The decision to film its signature romantic dream sequence, “Tumhi Dekho Naa” and title tracks, across Scotland set a precedent for Hindi cinema productions throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Scottish screen agencies have actively sought to recreate this production footprint by incentivising Indian film crews to return to the region for high-budget feature projects.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect International Film Producers And Tourism Stakeholders
This development is likely to stimulate increased collaboration between the Indian film industry and European screen commissions. By formalising high-profile retrospectives at international film festivals like EIFF, tourism boards in Scotland can expect a revitalised wave of screen tourism from South Asian travel markets.
Furthermore, Indian production houses seeking European backdrops may take advantage of renewed tax incentives and diplomatic facilitation resulting from these high-level cultural exchanges between Scottish leadership and leading Bollywood studios.
