Farhan Akhtar defends Dil Chahta Hai’s female characters

Twenty-five years after its release, Farhan Akhtar has addressed criticism of Dil Chahta Hai's limited female screen time. Speaking to The Indian Express, the filmmaker acknowledged the imbalance but insisted the female characters were written with agency and were not weak.

Akhtar pointed to Dimple Kapadia's Tara as a character whose impact on the friendship between the three male protagonists was significant. He also highlighted Sonali Kulkarni's Pooja as an independent woman who influences Sameer's view on love, and Deepannita Sharma's Shalini as a character who silently protests against her fiancé.

Akhtar reiterated that the film, starring Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan, was designed to centre on the friendship and emotional growth of the three boys. The 2001 film remains a defining Hindi film about urban youth and friendship.