I still remember when the trailers of Dil Chahta Hai aired. Everyone wanted to watch "Yaadein" at the time, and I wanted to watch DCH. I was forced to watch "Yaadein" but I did it on the condition that we watch "Dil Chahta Hai." So yeah I watched DCH in theatres when it released and everyone who went with me hated "Yaadein" and loved "Dil Chahta Hai" Still remember how everyone started freaking out in that scene in Goa where the clothes are strewn across the floor and Saif is heard grunting then it turned out to be nothing.
I was 11 years old then but this movie left a mark on me. I continued watching it over the years and understood it better with each viewing. Seen it more times than any other movie (minus AAA lol). A coming of age story, it was fresh, and probably changed Bollywood forever. Everyone I know loved it, including all the elders. It also made me fall in love with Amir, Akshaye and especially Saif, who I always ignored (funny, I am back to not liking him) and it also revived Saif's career. If it weren't for this movie, Saif would have disappeared.
Wake Up Sid, screamed "Dil Chahta Hai" to me, it was so obvious Ayaan was inspired by it.
8