Nikkhil Advani showed Richard Gere the Pretty Woman sequence from Kal Ho Naa Ho. The exchange linked Gere's 1990 romance to the Hindi film's celebrated song recreation.Nikkhil Advani's fanboy moment with Richard Gere has a Kal Ho Naa Ho twist Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani couldn't resist showing Richard Gere a little Bollywood nostalgia when the two crossed paths at the Dharamshala International Film Festival.

The filmmaker played the Hollywood actor the Pretty Woman sequence from his 2003 directorial debut, Kal Ho Naa Ho, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. And, judging by Advani's excitement, Gere's reaction was worth waiting for.Advani shared a video of the interaction on Instagram, teasing followers with the words, "Huge huge fan boy moment.

Showed @richardgere #PrettyWoman from #KalHoNaaHo (wait for his reaction) (sic)," he added that meeting Gere and showing him the sequence was the "Icing on the cake."The filmmaker also tagged Shah Rukh, Preity, Kal Ho Naa Ho writer Karan Johar, music composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, lyricist Javed Akhtar and choreographer Farah Khan in his post. He also tagged the official account of the late singer Roy Orbison, whose song inspired the sequence.Watch the post here: There's a lovely connection behind the moment.

Gere starred alongside Julia Roberts in the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, playing Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman who falls for Vivian Ward, a Hollywood sex worker. What begins as an arrangement for business events gradually turns into a love story.

The film became a global hit, while Orbison's Oh, Pretty Woman, featured in the film, went on to become an enduring favourite.Thirteen years later, the song found a Bollywood spin in Kal Ho Naa Ho. Shah Rukh's character Aman performs the Hindi version while dancing on top of a taxi, trying to win over his neighbour Naina, played by Preity.

The playful sequence remains one of the film's most memorable moments. Karan Johar, who wrote the film, had acquired the rights to recreate Orbison's original track.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy composed the Hindi version, with singer Ravi "Rags" Khote lending his voice. The adaptation retained the spirit of the original but gave it a distinctly Bollywood flavour, with Shah Rukh's infectious energy making it his own.For Advani, the interaction also brought things full circle in a way.

Kal Ho Naa Ho was his directorial debut, released in 2003. The film follows Naina, a young woman in New York whose life takes an unexpected turn after cheerful, easy-going Aman moves into her neighbourhood.

Played by Shah Rukh, Aman helps her see life differently, even as he quietly deals with a terminal illness. He also tries to bring her closer to her best friend Rohit, played by Saif Ali Khan, hoping to secure her happiness after he's gone.The Gere interaction took place during the 15th Dharamshala International Film Festival, being held in McLeod Ganj from October 29 to November 1, 2026.

Gere is part of the festival's board of advisors, while Advani is participating in a session with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra.The 90-minute conversation brings together two directors who share a history. Advani began his career in 1996 as a writer on Mishra's film Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin.

Their festival session offers audiences a chance to hear them reflect on their journeys in cinema. But for Advani, the festival also delivered an unexpected little treat: getting to show the star of Pretty Woman how Shah Rukh Khan gave the iconic song a life of its own in Kal Ho Naa Ho.- Ends