Looking back at Duplicate, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in his first double role | Hindi Movie News

While Duplicate featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the dual role of Manu and Bablu, released on May 8, 1998 was a non-starter at the box office, there are legendary behind-the-scenes stories of how director Mahesh Bhatt was scarcely present on the set, as he was at his peak directing multiple projects, unable to focus on any.

It reminded one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee who at one point of time, was directing two Dharmendra starrers Chaitali and Chupke Chupke on two floors of Film City. Likewise, Mahesh Bhatt was directing Tamanna, Angaaray and Duplicate at the same time.
The consequences were disastrous. Producer Yash Johar, who launched Dharma Productions with Duplicate, lost a humongous amount of money.
Recalls his doting son Karan Johar, “But the good thing is, the smile came back to my father’s face just six months later when Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released.”
Interestingly, Shah Rukh began shooting for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai after completing Duplicate for Dharma Productions. Kajol who co-starred with SRK in Kuch Kuch… had a fleeting cameo in Duplicate.
Farida Jalal who played SRK’s mother in both the films recalls the pleasant experience of shooting for two back-to-back Dharma Productions. “Producer Yash Johar looked after his artistes so well. I was most comfortable shooting for both the films. And yes, in both I played Shah Rukh Khan’s mother. But they were very different mother’s roles. I enjoyed both.”
It was said that Javed Akhtar wrote the song Kathai Aankhon Wali for his wife Shabana Azmi.

But she vehemently denies this. “Aisa kuch bhi nahin tha. My husband has not written a single song for me. When that film (Duplicate) was being released people would ask Javed if Kathai Aankhon Wali was dedicated to me. He would let them think there was some truth to this. But it’s not true. I am still waiting for him to write a song for me.”