'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol clocks 23 years
Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge has completed 23 years since its release in 1995, and yet continues to be everyone's favourite and most cherished film.
Ask a crowd of Bollywood buffs and two out of three people would tag DDLJ as the most iconic romantic film made in Bollywood. From picturesque locales to a candid love story, the film had everything- love, compassion and candy floss!
Different from the usual love sagas that the audience was subjected to at that point, DDLJ was a refreshing change. Apart from the performances, it was the feel and the vibe of the film which tugged at the heart.
The film not only turned out to be one of India's biggest blockbusters, but also helped change the way we perceive love. Deep within, everyone wished they were Raj or Simran and dreamt of meeting their counterpart, in the same trademark DDLJ manner. The story about two diametrically opposite characters falling in love and making it work against all odds with their obstinate determination, DDLJ endeared itself to the audience.
Dilwale did not just teach us to love. It rather instilled within us the vigour to fight for love, of never giving up on it. The film did not just give birth to two superstars in the form of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, but also made the characters they played- Raj and Simran- iconic for decades here onwards.
As the film turns 23, let's dig deep and know more about it!
1. Shah Rukh Khan wasn't the first choice
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Not Shah Rukh Khan, but Tom Cruise was the first choice for the role of 'Raj'. Director Aditya Chopra wanted to cast the Hollywood star, but Yash Chopra wasn’t quite excited about this.
Next, Saif Ali Khan was approached for the role, but he turned it down, after which Shah Rukh Khan was roped in.
Interestingly, it took a lot of convincing to get the Baadshah of Bollywood do the role of a chocolate boy, since he was worried of getting typecast as the loverboy
2. The leather jacket
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The leather jacket Shah Rukh is seen donning in the film was picked up by Uday Chopra from a Harley-Davidson store in California
3. All about the title
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The title of the film, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' wasn’t the scriptwriter or the director’s brainchild. It was suggested by Anupam Kher’s wife Kirron Kher!
4. Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane
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Aditya Chopra had asked SRK to drop Kajol at the end of the song 'Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane'.
The director, however did not brief Kajol about the same just so he could capture her genuine reaction
5. A matter of 3- weeks
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Aditya Chopra wrote DDLJ in a span of three to four weeks. Karan Johar revealed that every day, Adi would discuss the film and its core concept with him and ask for his input– but mostly, he had the film sorted in his head and was able to write it quickly
6. This is what Anupam Kher wanted
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Anupam Kher actually asked Aditya Chopra why he gave the bigger role to Amrish Puri, saying he wanted to play it instead.
However, Aditya refused to give him Amrish Puri's role
7. Karan Johar's training ground
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DDLJ was Karan Johar’s training ground. “I never went to film school. I never assisted on anything else. My only training ground to becoming a film director was DDLJ,” he had once said
8. To firsts!
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Anaita Shroff Adajania probably had her first stylist moment on the sets of this film. She wasn’t a stylist back then, but while shooting the swimming pool sequence, she thought that Kajol’s swimsuit needed an extra layer. The only option available was Sarojji‘s (Khan) dupatta, so they took that and wrapped it around Kajol to complete her look.
Also, Uday Chopra and Karan Johar cut the making of DDLJ. They were locked in an edit room for days getting this done, and Karan said he felt like they were making their own film. They then got a slot from Doordarshan and aired the making of the film on TV– a first for Indian cinema
9. Still running in theatre
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Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theater had run 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' for 19 years after its release
