Netflix’s latest offering, “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,” featuring Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Adarsh Gourav, has become a favorite among audiences, earning accolades for its portrayal of unconventional friendships. Directed by Arjun Varain Singh and co-written by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar, the film, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, narrates the story of lifelong friends Ahana, Neil, and Imaad.
In a recent interview with Humans of Cinema, director Arjun Varain Singh clarified that the absence of a romantic or sexual angle between the three friends was intentional. He emphasized that the portrayal needed to be natural and enjoyable. Singh shared, “That was never a part of the plan. It just needed to be natural and it seemed fun. We often see three boys, but it’s nice to have a girl who is a part of the gang. That is how it is in real life as well.”
Zoya Akhtar, supporting Singh’s vision, added, “We all have that in our lives. We have friends who have been friends and have remained friends. It has never crossed over to anything else and has stayed true to that. But it doesn’t get reflected somehow.”
The film captures the essence of the trio’s close friendship, with scenes depicting them casually entering each other’s rooms at any time. Despite navigating through individual challenges—Ahana’s relationship issues, Imaad’s Tinder addiction, and Neil’s career struggles—the film avoids the conventional love triangle trope.
Post the screening of “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan,” producer Ritesh Sidhwani noted the audience’s appreciation for maintaining a pure friendship dynamic among the three characters. He shared, “Many people after the screening pointed out that three of them share an apartment, and yet there is no love triangle there, and it is just pure friendship.” The film’s unique take on friendship without the tension of romantic entanglements has struck a chord with viewers, adding to its acclaim.