Rani Mukerji calls sexism argument against Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 'frivolous,' feels there more to Tina than just being a pretty face

Karan Johar’s debut into Bollywood with the all time blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai may be an integral part of life for those who grew up in the ‘90s but with time the audience of this film did come to realize that the film wasn’t entirely perfect. One of the biggest reasons why the audience today looks down on the film’s narrative is seeing the protagonist Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) choose the pretty girl Tina (Rani Mukerji) over the tomboyish Anjali (Kajol) until the latter suddenly turns all feminine and he realizes he loves her.

Rani Mukherji who played Tina in the movie has now defended the film against this sexist interpretation and said that she doesn’t see her character as just the ‘pretty one’.  Talking to India.com Rani said that matters of the heart are subjective and in cannot be directed into following what is morally acceptable according to another person.

Explaining the many reasons behind Rahul falling for her character Tina, Rani said, “She was someone who was very hard to get for him (Rahul) which resulted in him having the curiosity to go more after her. The fact that she sang ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare’ on the college campus while he thought that she’s born and brought up in London… The fact that she is so deeply rooted to her culture and that she’s so grounded – those and a lot of other things probably attracted Rahul to Tina as a person as well.”

Calling the recent criticism frivolous Rani added, “I won’t categorise it as ‘he went for someone who looked great and not for Anjali who was more of a tomboy.’ I won’t make it as frivolous as that. I would say that there was a lot of depth to Tina’s character for someone like Rahul to have fallen for her… Because, at the end of it all, it was Tina who understood the love that Rahul and Anjali had for each other. She, in turn, makes her daughter reunite the two of them. You know there that Tina had a lot of depth along with being a good-looking girl.”

In Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Rani’s character dies after marrying Rahul and having a daughter with him. She does leave behind a series of letters for her daughter which help her reunite Anjali and Rahul at a summer camp.