It was a dream fanboy moment for filmmaker Nikkhil Advani at the 15th edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival 2026. The director, best known for his iconic debut Kal Ho Naa Ho, found himself in the company of Hollywood legend Richard Gere. Not missing the chance to bridge the gap between Bollywood and Hollywood, Advani decided to show the superstar a clip from his 2003 directorial debut—specifically the famous Pretty Woman song sequence.
Taking to Instagram to document the encounter, Advani shared a video capturing Gere’s reaction to the Bollywood rendition of the track that defined his own career. The filmmaker expressed his sheer excitement, admitting he has been an admirer of the Hollywood icon for years. The song itself holds a unique place in cinematic history, as it was a Hindi adaptation of Roy Orbison’s original track from the 1990 classic Pretty Woman, which starred Gere alongside Julia Roberts.
In the beloved Kal Ho Naa Ho sequence, Shah Rukh Khan’s character Aman performs the high-energy dance number to charm Preity Zinta’s Naina. With music composed by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and vocals provided by Ravi “Rags” Khote, the song became an instant sensation upon the film’s release. Beyond the catchy music, the 2003 hit featured an ensemble cast including Saif Ali Khan, Jaya Bachchan, and Sushma Seth, with a screenplay penned by Karan Johar. Seeing the man who inspired the song witness this Bollywood homage proved to be a highlight of the festival for both the filmmaker and fans alike.