Shah Rukh Khanâs Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani is still relevant says director Aziz Mirza  

Even 25 years after its release, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani continues to strike a chord with audiences — and director Aziz Mirza believes its relevance has only grown stronger with time. Known for its powerful themes, witty satire, and memorable music by Jatin-Lalit, the 2000 film was also the first project from Dreamz Unlimited, the production house co-founded by SRK, Juhi, and Mirza himself.

Reflecting on the film’s journey, Aziz Mirza recently shared in an interview that he initially couldn’t contribute financially to Dreamz Unlimited despite plans to do so. “We had decided to invest five lakhs each,” he revealed. “I didn’t even have five lakhs. I invested it at the end. I’m being very honest.”

 


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More importantly, Mirza emphasized the film’s continuing relevance, especially when discussing how it portrayed the media’s role in manipulating narratives. “Even if you see the film today, it is still so relevant,” he said. He pointed to a scene where riots are deliberately shifted to a Hindu-Muslim narrative to distract from the original issue. “All these things were done,” he said, noting that Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani captured these dynamics long before they became mainstream talking points.

Mirza also recalled his son’s thoughts on the film’s tone. “My son says you should have made the film seriously and not as a satire; then people might have understood. But I made it the way I saw it,” he explained.
 



The film starred Shah Rukh Khan as Ajay Bakshi, a bold reporter for KTV Channel, and Juhi Chawla as Ria Banerjee from rival Galaxy TV. Supported by an ensemble cast including Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, and Shakti Kapoor, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani blended humor, romance, and social commentary in a way that remains powerful even today.

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