Desi Archie 

For all of us growing up on Archie comics, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar took our much loved characters from Riverdale and plonked them in Dehradun. The rivalry between Rajput and Model schools, the boys making a beeline for Queen’s (the town’s all-girls school), and everyone meeting up at the end of a tough school day at Ramlal’s Cafe (where one could drink Thrill!), a la Poptate’s in Archie… it was all there. And then, of course, the principal characters: Sanjay Lal aka Sanju (Aamir Khan), who vies for the attention of rich girl Devika (Pooja Bedi doing a Veronica aka “bloody gold digger”, in Sanju’s words), even as his close pal Anjali (Ayesha Jhulka as Betty) loves him silently. Reggie came in the form of spoilt brat Shekhar (Deepak Tijori), with Sanju’s close pals Ghode (Aditya Lakhia) and Ghansu (Deven Bhojani) loosely playing Jughead and Moose. Yes, JJWS gave us a world we were familiar with and Mansoor Khan’s handling of it kept us invested  in the teen story. 

We-too 

JJWS was so much about our lives — exam fears to reading forbidden glossies, stealing quiet glances at the cute guy in class to wanting to fall in love desperately. Even today, the timeless film resonates with every generation because it takes us back to the best days of our lives. 

Oh, first love! 

Jo Jeeta… best exemplified the highs and lows of first love. Anjali’s selfless love for Sanju touched a chord, as did Sanju’s brother Ratan’s (Mamik) silent admiration for neighbour Kalpana. And Pehla nasha (more about that later) became the anthem of pehla, pehla pyaar.

Sanju was us 

The seemingly useless “pyjama chhaap” with a heart of gold, Sanju became the poster boy of all those wayward teens who eventually found their goal in life. His grades may have been low, but Sanju the friend and brother always got top marks. From kicking the cycle of a rival when Ratan was about to begin his race to smuggling out food in a newspaper from Anjali’s house and sharing it with his friends, Sanju was endearing, even when he ended up doing the wrong thing. Sanju lying through his teeth to get close to rich girl Devika may have been all-wrong, but then boys will be boys. By the way, Aamir snuck into the principal’s room and stole question papers in JJWS a good 17 years before he did the same in 
3 Idiots! 

The crush 

Aamir brought his chocolatey charm to Sanju, but it was Mamik’s strong and silent Ratan who many of us crushed hard on. We loved it when he slipped love letters to Kalpana between loaves of bread. That shy smile, those cute curls and the way he came to kid bro’s rescue to beat up the bad boys in style did the rest.
The bro bond

Ratan was the quintessential good boy, always making his father proud, while Sanju was the one ducking all responsibility and hiding his report card under his mattress, but there was a bond between the brothers that still brings a smile to the face. Sanju may have pranked Ratan often — remember that fake love letter to Ratan from Kalpana? — but Ratan’s accident not only makes Sanju grow up in a hurry but also brings the brothers closer. And who can forget Ratan wiping tears of joy when Sanju wins the cycle race?

The moments 

Sanju inciting a fight in his cafe between the Rajput and Xavier boys and then participating with glee in a free-for-all egg fight.

Sanju’s eyes popping out at that first glimpse of Devika in a magenta sleeveless dress. Sanju’s friends playing along — to hilarious results — when he pretends to be rich man “Thapar ka beta” to impress Devika.

Sanju and Devika dunking buckets of dung on an unsuspecting Shekhar and his pals. 

Ratan rushing to Sanju’s help when he is beaten up by the Rajput boys… and then punching him to the ground when Sanju gets cocky... so many top moments! 

The music

Pehla nasha is a classic that still brings back memories of pehla pyaar, in slo-mo of course. Aamir tossing his sweater in the air and dancing with abandon as Udit Narayan’s voice sings Pehla nasha pehla khumar… naya pyaar hai, naya intezaar… is an enduring image. Thank you, Farah Khan! (See box right) 
Devika’s Marilyn Monroe moment with that red dress billowing in the wind.... Anjali lying on a stack of hay and Sanju kissing her cheek lightly... awwwwww!
Yahan ke hum sikandar was the song we all sang in a group.
Jawaan hai yaaron is still fun, while Rooth ke humse brings a lump to the throat even now. Jatin-Lalit at the top of their game.

The thrill of that last race 
We know that Sanju is going to pull the gear and edge past Shekhar at the last minute, but the final race still keeps us on the edge of our seats, much like the hockey final in Chak De! India. Right from the time Anjali helps Sanju train hard to that moment when Sanju crosses the finish line first and slumps to the ground with a smile, we root for the boy who makes the underdog look so good. Yes, jo jeeta wohi sikandar! 
Priyanka Roy 

TEAM T2 ON WHY WE LOVE JJWS! 

It makes me feel young

I must have watched Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar more than 25 times… and counting! The film brings back fond memories of my childhood. It was one of the first films my cousins allowed me to watch with them. A big favour if your cousins are big bullies and you just have one TV at home. I still remember huddling in front of the TV, bowls of telebhaja and muri on our laps, and giggling away as Aamir Khan’s Sanjay posed as a rich guy trying to impress Pooja Bedi’s Devika. How good were those days! This is a film that saw me through adolescence to adulthood, and it still brings alive the teenager full of innocent love in me with every watch… Jo Jeeta… makes me feel young. Sanjay was total boyfriend material… goofy and yet a go-getter. You wished you were his Anjali! Years later when I had my first crush, Pehla nasha was the song on my lips. It’s one of those songs I knew by heart… for many years. The tale of an underdog always touches a chord and I have cheered for Sanjay when he got on to that cycle to race for dignity, pride and to prove a point. JJWS sums up a winner’s mantra... the winner takes it all.

Saionee Chakraborty 

Will always be more than a film

There’s much more a film can do to you than just entertain… Jo Jeeta… is that kind of a film. A part of my childhood, growing-up years, my first crush, the first love letter... growing up in a quaint hill station in an all-girls boarding school made me identify with the world of JJWS… yes, those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end! The school rivalry, the sports day fun, falling for the wrong guy, spending sleepless nights wondering why chocolate boy Aamir couldn’t be my lover! Jo Jeeta… is and will always be more than a film to me. It’s that childhood album I like going back to again and again. Pehla nasha indeed!

Kushali Nag

Made campus cool

I remember Jo Jeeta… as the film that made me hate my school a little bit. Because it didn’t have a boy like Aamir (who I had decided to marry aged six, after watching QSQT), a friendship like Sanju and Anjali’s or super-fun fetes, dances and games… or nail-biting cycle races. Heck, my school wasn’t even up in the hills! Long before Kuch Kuch Hota Hai became the Bolly Bible for campus life, there was JJWS and its simple, sweet classroom romance. And, of course, Pehla nasha and the intoxication of young love.

Samhita Chakraborty

An entertainer with a message

My mom is a huge Aamir Khan fan and every time Jo Jeeta… would air on TV, she would sit down to watch it and make my sister and me watch it as well. As a kid, I loved watching the cycle race, and cheered till the very end. But mom had other plans, she made us watch it so diligently because of the message that the movie sent out — persevere and you shall get what you want and being rich isn’t the only thing that counts. Call it habit or tradition, but we still sit together and watch JJWS. #Nostalgia

Zeba Akhtar

I never stop rooting for Sanju

There are many top moments, but my favourite has to be the final race. It’s just one of those moments that never gets old. Even when you’ve seen Sanju win the race a number of times, you don’t stop rooting for him… from the moment the race starts to the last minute when he shifts the final gear and pulls ahead of Shekhar. It feels even more satisfying because it is not just payback for every time the Rajput boys and the Queen girls humiliated Sanju and his family and Model friends, but also because he could prove to his father that he was a worthy son.

Chandreyee Chatterjee

DID YOU KNOW?

Aamir’s nephew Imran Khan played the young Sanju.

Farah Khan made her debut as choreographer with this film. Her first song? Pehla nasha! Farah calls it “her life-changing moment”.... “Thank u Mansoor Khan for taking a chance on me! I celebrate 25 yrs of being in this industry… 1st n ONLY award i win for Pehla Nasha!...”  Farah posted on social media last week.

Akshay Kumar was screen-tested for the role of the antagonist Shekhar — in Aamir Khan’s garden! — but he didn’t make the cut. Milind Soman shot a sizeable chunk as Shekhar, but was later replaced by Deepak Tijori. 

The film was based in Dehradun, but shot in Ooty. 

JJWS was shot twice over a period of two years! 

I love Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar because... Tell t2@abp.in