There’s something magical about stepping into a theatre and watching a beloved film play out larger than life, as if it were brand-new again. That’s how Nikkhil Advani’s 2003 box-office hit Kal Ho Naa Ho made all those who returned to the cinemas for a special anniversary re-release of the film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan feel.

The Cinepolis Lake Mall auditorium for an evening show on November 20 was packed with a mix of Gen Z and millennials along with some in their 40s. For those who watched it for the first time on the big screen when they were adolescents, it was a walk down memory lane. For the much younger crowd, it was a chance to experience a piece of pop culture before the advent of OTT.

Seated between a group of wide-eyed college students and an older couple, you could catch their collective gasps, laughs and tears as Aman, Naina and Rohit’s journey of unrequited love, friendship and loss unfolded through witty dialogues and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s heartwarming music.

For many younger viewers, this was their first time watching the film at a movie theatre. “I never thought I would see Kal Ho Na Ho on the big screen,” said 24-year-old Rakibuddin Mollah, an accountant by profession. “I see so many parallels between this film and my own life, which is why I found myself crying a little as I was watching it. Many characters come and go, but Aman Mathur (Shah Rukh Khan) stands out as the most unique of them all”.

“Kal Ho Na Ho teaches us to live in the moment and have faith in God. True love leaves an indelible mark on the heart, one that can never be forgotten. It’s an emotional journey. Thank you for the re-release, which has allowed our generation to once again believe in the power of love,” said 28-year old HR manager Payel Dey.

For 20-year old Somdatta Ghosh, it was extra special because “when the movie released I was one year old. I didn’t even imagine that one day I would be watching this film in the theatre. Kal Ho Na Ho taught us how to fall in love with life”.

For older fans, the re-release was an emotional reunion with a film that marked pivotal moments in their lives. “I first saw this film when I was in school,” said Roshni Dutta, now in her late 30s. “I remember my friends sobbing uncontrollably in the theatre. Watching it now, I can’t help but reflect on how much life has changed, but the movie still feels like an old friend,” she added, echoing the sentiment of many Bollywood buffs of her generation.