Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta starrer Koi Mil Gaya completes 17 years

17 years ago, Rakesh Roshan directorial Koi... Mil Gaya released on this day. The film starred Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and veteran actor Rekha in significant roles. It was primarily about the friendship between Hrithik's character, Rohit Mehra, and an extraterrestrial being, Jadoo. (Photo: Express archive)

Priety played the role of Rohit's love interest Nisha Malhotra. (Photo: Express archive)

In this still from the film, Rohit, Nisha and the kids from the film can be seen with Jaadoo. Actor Hansika Motwani worked as a child artiste in the film. (Photo: Express archive)

Many have found similarites between the story of Koi... Mil Gaya and Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which itself is said to be inspired by Satyajit Ray's short story The Alien. (Photo: Express archive)

Priety Zinta with Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik on the set of Koi... Mil Gaya. (Photo: Express archive)

Koi... Mil Gaya is set in Kasauli but apart from that scenic Himalayan town, it was also shot in Nanital, Bhimtal and Canada. (Photo: Express archive)

Rekha played the role of Rohit's mother in the film. (Photo: Express archive)

The film won three National Film Awards - Best Film on Other Social Issues, Best Choreography and Best Special Effects. (Photo: Express archive)

For his performance in Koi... Mil Gaya, Hrithik was showered with numerous awards. (Photo: Express archive)

The character of Jaadoo was not CGI as is generally believed but was played by a vertically challenged man who was wearing an animatronic head. (Photo: Express archive)

The then Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hrithik Roshan, Rakesh Roshan and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a screening of the movie. (Photo: Express archive)