New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- Karan Johar has reflected on the sharply divided response to Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna as the 2006 film marks 20 years, recalling angry audience reactions to its portrayal of marital infidelity and explaining what he intended the controversial story to convey.

Johar recalled secretly attending a paid preview of the film before its release, where he witnessed an audience member's reaction to a pivotal scene involving Dev and Maya, played by Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji.

Johar started the post with, "A night before Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna released, there was a paid preview in a cinema nearby. I went quietly to watch the film with an audience and I was sitting behind a very traditionally dressed middle aged couple (and...