It has been 20 years since the release of Dil Chahta Hai, a film that resonated with an entire generation.

Dil Chahta Hai scenes that are so 2020!#19yearsofDilChahtaHai pic.twitter.com/ZcoCljEdrB

— All About Eve India (@allabouteve_in) August 10, 2020

While most saw the film as a story about three best friends, the film was actually about a lot more. Even today, two decades after the film’s release, the lessons learnt from it are still relevant. And no, they are not just about friendship. Dil Chahta Hai taught us some valuable lessons for life that help us be better partners in every relationship. Here are some of the lessons we learnt and still cherish!

1. Goa is not synonymous with plans that don’t come to fruition

Akash, Sameer, and Sid found their perfect moment for a trip to Goa. So clearly, it can be done. You just need to find the right moment for it. More importantly, Goa is much more than being drunk at a beach all day long. Having lived in Goa for four years, I can tell you this – don’t plan that ridiculous ‘Bob Marley aur hum naa maarein?’ trip!

2. You can laugh at happy couples now, but you won’t be laughing when you’re in that situation

As youngsters, we often sit with our group of friends and end up mocking the baby, shona, and jaanu couples. But boy, does life have a way of smacking us right in the face when our time comes! Love is beautiful, but it also stings like a bee, which makes you wonder jaane kyun log pyaar karte hain!

3. Moving across continents is not a sign of ‘dosti khatam’

School and college farewells often end in sob fests with people thinking about their friends moving to different cities and countries. But if there’s anything that Dil Chahta Hai has taught us, it’s that no distance can ever affect a strong relationship.

4. Broken hearts don’t necessarily make one a Kundan from Raanjhanaa

Sid loved Tara in the purest way. He knew his love was never going to be returned in the way he wanted. However, when Tara needed a friend, Sid left his broken heart behind to support her like a rock. Be like Sid, not like Kundan.

5. You may not get it, but don’t be a prick by mocking your friend’s emotions

Dil Chahta Hai showed us beautifully how age is just a mere number when it comes to love. In fact, we know of so many celebrity couples who are happily married despite a massive age gap. However, in the movie, Akash was an absolute prick in the moment when he mocked Sid about his love for Tara. Be like Sameer, not Akash, in such situations.

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6. Yeh rishta kya kehlata hai? Who cares?

Sid and Tara had a bond that was more than friendship but less than life partners. It was definitely a relationship that many found hard to understand, and perhaps, would question even in 2021. But do we really need to put a tag on every relationship? I say no!

7. Arranged marriages don’t necessarily come with a ‘Sima from Mumbai’

Yes, we’re all pretty traumatised by the arranged marriage process shown in Indian Matchmaking but it isn’t always like that! Sima from Mumbai, or someone like her, doesn’t always come as a part of the deal. Sameer and Pooja clearly show that arranged marriages too can turn out to be the best thing that ever happens to you.

8. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, it means giving yourself a chance

Didn’t we feel terrible for Deepa when we saw how much she loved Akash? But then, we also learned a big lesson about unrequited love and how letting go is sometimes the best gift you can give yourself.

9. An unhappy moment is way better than an unhappy life

There were many who questioned Akash’s decision to show up at Shalini’s wedding function. Many said it was selfish on his part to not consider Rohit, his feelings, and his family’s pride. But think about it, had he not stepped up that day, wouldn’t it ruin three lives – Shalini, Akash, and Rohit’s?

10. Showing up for a friend in need is more important than any hurt feelings and ego

After the whole fallout with Sid, Akash decides to grow up and move to Australia to manage his dad’s business. He spends a considerable amount of time away from Sid. But when Sid needs him the most, Akash is there to support him.

Even though it released in 2001, Dil Chahta Hai is a movie that was way ahead of its time. I was perhaps 11 or 12 years old when I watched it the first time on a DVD. I loved it back then, and I love it even more today!

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