Karan Johar's I Hate Luv Storys directed by Punit Malhotra and starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor is set to release this Friday. KJo himself loves love stories. He says, "I can never hate love stories. No matter how mushy or cheesy they are. I love stories because of the tremendous rush I get at the end. I am one big sucker for love stories."
Here he picks out the top ten films he loves to love.
Titanic: I love Titanic. Must have seen it eight times. The crackling chemistry between Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio is amazing! I love tragedies and I was weeping so hard at the end of it. I saw it one night and the next day again. It's my all-time favourite and has all the ingredients of a big Hindi film: rich vs poor, conflict and then a tragic ending.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak: When I saw QSQT, I fell in love with Aamir and Juhi and their cute romance. I was in college then and after I saw it, I was bowled over in the manner Juhi spoke in the film. At the risk of sounding mad, I'd quote her dialogues and would say with 'aap' to everyone. There was a freshness about Juhi. Again, I wept buckets after I saw the film. It shattered me for weeks. Bobby: I must have seen Bobby more times than I have seen my parents. I just love the magic of Raj Kapoor and they way he presented Dimple Kapadia. Rajji made such a young film at that age.
It's said he was inspired by Archie comics but there's so much energy otherwise in each and every character including Premnath's. And what a launch for his son Rishi Kapoor. I thank Raj Kapoor for giving us an actress like Dimple. Bobby is the mother of Hindi film love stories and the bible of Indian cinema.
Pretty Woman: No matter how many times I watch Pretty Woman, I have to watch the end more than once. It's the most viewer-friendly love story and the magic between Richard Gere and Juila Roberts again sparks the romantic element in us. I love the end. It's like a fairy tale. When Gere climbs the ladder to propose to Julia, it makes you want to do just the same!
Love Story: I love the Hollywood flick, Love Story and would keep watching it on our VHS at home till my parents came into my room to drag me out. I was nine years old and needed therapy after watching the film. It was so sweet, romantic and sad that it scarred me for life. I'm a weeper. I've never cried so much.
Ankhiyon Ke Jharokon Se: It was the Hindi version of Love Story and I have the title song on it in my iPod. I have to hear it at least once a week. Both the versions are my favorites and I love them to death. I cried and wept after watching the films. It was cathartic. When I watch these films all my pent-up memories as a child are released.
Jab We Met: I can't speak much about contemporary love stories because there haven't been many spectacular ones in the last decade but I did enjoy Jab We Met. I loved the dialogues, the way Imtiaz wrote the conversations between the two protagonists Shahid and Kareena. Also when Imtiaz wrote Geet he created a fantastic new iconic character. Kareena was exuberant and fantastic.
Awaara: The love track between Raj Kapoor and Nargis is just outstanding! The sheer sensuality and romance that exudes between them in every scene is absolutely unachievable. They are the most brilliantly captured love moments on celluloid. Never before or after has there ever been such a combination of romance and sensuality on the Indian silver screen.
When Harry Met Sally: It's modern-age, contemporary, vibrant, edgy and well written. It's iconic in its content n its performances and was like a pillar of romance truly in the 90s " a pillar that remains immovable till today.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge: It's strange the way we look at modern-day love stories. DDLJ is sheer genius and a film on love, drama and contemporary romance. Perhaps that's why the love story between Raj and Simran makes DDLJ the longest running film in the history of cinema. However many times we watch DDLJ we can never get enough. Raj and Simran continue to be the iconic lovers of India today.