When Shah Rukh Khan Offered ₹5,000 for a Film Title — and Ranbir Kapoor Delivered the Winning Idea

Before Jab Harry Met Sejal reached cinemas in 2017, the film had already generated significant buzz for bringing together superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali for the first time. While the romantic drama eventually received a mixed response at the box office, one aspect of its journey stood out—the unusual search for its title.

Instead of settling on a name behind closed doors, Shah Rukh Khan turned the process into a fun industry-wide challenge, promising ₹5,000 to anyone who came up with the perfect title.

Ranbir Kapoor Suggested the Title

As the makers explored multiple options, actor Ranbir Kapoor suggested “Jab Harry Met Sejal.” The title immediately caught Shah Rukh Khan’s attention.

During promotional interactions before the film’s release, Shah Rukh revealed that Ranbir had personally called him with the suggestion.

According to Shah Rukh, Ranbir told him that the film should be titled Jab Harry Met Sejal. While the team initially debated whether the name would remind audiences of Imtiaz Ali’s earlier hit Jab We Met, the title gradually became the preferred choice during internal discussions.

Karan Johar Also Played a Small Role

The title reportedly went through one final refinement. Shah Rukh shared that filmmaker Karan Johar suggested changing “When Harry Met Sejal” to “Jab Harry Met Sejal,” believing the Hindi wording better matched Imtiaz Ali’s storytelling style and the film’s tone.

The revised title was eventually finalized and announced officially.

Shah Rukh Khan Kept His Promise

Ranbir Kapoor later recalled that Shah Rukh Khan remembered the promise about the reward when they met at one of Imtiaz Ali’s gatherings.

In a light-hearted moment, Shah Rukh not only handed Ranbir the promised ₹5,000, but reportedly added an extra ₹1,000 as a bonus. Ranbir joked that one of his “pending payments” had finally been cleared.

The story has since become one of Bollywood’s memorable behind-the-scenes anecdotes, highlighting the friendly camaraderie shared between the two actors.

About Jab Harry Met Sejal

Released in 2017, Jab Harry Met Sejal starred Shah Rukh Khan as Harinder “Harry” Singh Nehra, a tour guide, alongside Anushka Sharma as Sejal Zaveri. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film explored a journey across Europe as the two characters searched for a lost engagement ring while discovering themselves along the way.

Although the film received mixed reviews and underperformed commercially, its soundtrack composed by Pritam—featuring songs such as Hawayein and Radha—continues to enjoy popularity among listeners.