Akshaye Khanna  has an affair with a much older woman, played by Dimple Kapadia. Saif Ali Khan loves too many women(!) and Aamir Khan likes Preity Zinta. Aamir Khan also has some negative shades to his role.

The three friends enjoy life but a day comes when Akshaye slaps Aamir for hurting his feelings (about love). Aamir sulks and the friendship breaks. While Akshaye gets busy with his passion (painting) and love (Dimple Kapadia), Aamir goes off to Australia to look after his dad's business. He meets a girl (Preity Zinta) whom he had briefly known in India, and their friendship slowly but surely blossoms into love there. 

Debutant writer and director Farhan Akhtar has given an extremely fresh and youthful look to the film. Besides, it does not conform to several norms set by earlier films and, in that sense, is quite a non-conformist fare. For instance, although there are three heroes, not a single one believes in love quite the way heroes do in Hindi films.

The first half is fun-filled and has good situational and words-based comedy. The drama doesn't move too much in this half but several of the comedy scenes are hilarious. The post-interval portion has more of drama and movement but the film also slackens in pace in the last few reels. For one, Akshaye Khanna's revelation of his love for a woman, much older than him, doesn't hold viewers' interest. Aamir Khan also takes unduly long to come to terms with his belief in love and to express the same to his beloved. Some exceptionally funny scenes in the second half provide entertaining moments.

Aamir Khan is simply splendid in a role that gives him the maximum scope among the three heroes. If he is marvelous in the light scenes, he is extraordinary in the scene in which he breaks down while talking to his father over the telephone. 

Saif Ali Khan springs a wonderful surprise with a performance that could be rated as his best. His sense of timing and his facial expressions in comic as well as emotional scenes are laudable. The scene in which he describes the fiancé of his beloved is mind-blowingly funny. 

Akshaye Khanna's is a difficult role - less flamboyant, more restrained. He comes out with flying colours and delivers a perfectly restrained performance. 

Preity Zinta looks glamorous and sexy and acts beautifully. The new look of all the four aforementioned actors only adds to the freshness.Dimple Kapadia looks quite old for people's liking but she fits the character very well.Sonali Kulkarni has been wasted. Ayub Khan acquits himself favourably. Suchitra Pillai is okay.

The subject of this film is of the kind which will appeal to the city audiences. It is too much of a departure from the usual Hindi films to be lapped up by the viewers outside cities. 

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is pretty youthful. `Koi kahe kehta rahe', the title track, `Jaane kyon log pyar karte hain' and `Tanhayee' are brilliant numbers and their picturisations (Farah Khan) complement their tunes. The picturisation of `Koi kahe kehta rahe', especially, is fabulous. Computer graphics are very good at most of the places they've been employed.

Camerawork (Ravi K. Chandran) is masterly. Australian locales are a treat to the eyes. Production values are rich. Other technical aspects are of a high standard.

On the whole, Dil Chahta Hai will be loved by the elite audience for its freshness and youthfulness.

This kind of movies comes only once in a bluemoon.Not to be missed.