The filmmaker met Hollywood actor Richard Gere at the 15th edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival 2026 and showed him the popular Pretty Woman sequence from his 2003 film Kal Ho Naa Ho, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. Nikkhil Advani got a rather special opportunity to revisit one of the most memorable moments from his first film, and this time, he had a very special audience. For someone who grew up admiring the Hollywood star, it was clearly a moment to cherish.
Richard Gere’s 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman remains one of Hollywood’s best-known love stories. The 15th edition of the Dharmshala International Film Festival (DIFF) is being held in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, from October 29 to November 1, 2026. The 90-minute discussion brings together two directors with a shared history, as Advani began his career in 1996 by writing for Mishra’s film Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin.
The filmmaker also tagged Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Karan Johar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, lyricist Javed Akhtar and choreographer Farah Khan. He also tagged the official account of the late Roy Orbison in his post. The actor played Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman who meets Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a Hollywood sex worker. What begins as an arrangement for business events soon develops into an unexpected romance. The film became a worldwide hit and helped establish Julia Roberts as a leading Hollywood star. Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’, which featured in the film, also became a timeless favourite. The song eventually found its way into Hindi cinema through Kal Ho Naa Ho. In the film, Shah Rukh’s character Aman breaks into a Hindi version of Pretty Woman, dancing on top of a taxi and trying to win over his neighbour Naina (Preity Zinta). The sequence is among the film’s most recognisable moments and remains a fan favourite. Karan Johar, who wrote the film, had acquired the rights to recreate Roy Orbison’s original track. The team gave the familiar song a Bollywood makeover without losing the charm of the original. Shah Rukh’s playful performance made it even more memorable. This year’s festival brings together an eclectic selection of films, along with interactive sessions that give audiences an opportunity to hear directly from filmmakers and other industry professionals. Richard Gere is also part of the festival’s board of advisors. One of the sessions features filmmaker Sudhir Mishra in conversation with Nikkhil Advani.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy worked on the music, with singer Ravi “Rags” Khote lending his voice to the Hindi version.
