One of Bollywood’s most iconic films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is celebrating 25 years. The lead actors of the film – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol – got nostalgic about the film and changed their Twitter display names to Raj Malhotra and Simran, their characters from the movie.
Every 90s desi kid has seen the film multiple times and to celebrate the film’s silver jubilee, The Current brings to you five things you (probably) did not know about the film.
1. SRK initially refused to play the role of Raj
SRK, who is also know as the ‘King of Romance’, reportedly did not want to be part of the project because he just couldn’t connect to the character of Raj Malhotra.
“Raj was unlike anything I had done before,” the actor had said. “There were films like Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam, in which I had portrayed negative characters. Also, I always felt that I wasn’t cut out to play any romantic type of character. So, when I was presented with the opportunity by Adi [director Aditya Chopra] and Yash Ji of essaying the role, I was excited to work with him but had no idea how to go about it and also if I would be able to do it well.”
He further shared: “Actually, I always felt Adi’s love for me made him cast me. I found the character endearing and sweet in the right way — the-over-the-topness is my contribution. It was one of those roles that I realised can do with me using a version of my real self so you might see some quirks, habits and mannerisms that were true to my off-screen persona, especially the sense of humour part.”
Khan also said that he is very shy around women and did not know how he would pull off the romantic scenes in DDLJ.
“I was told by many people that I looked unconventional, very different from what the perception of a leading man was. I did feel, maybe, not being handsome enough or as they called it then ‘chocolatey’ would make me unsuitable for romantic roles. Also, I am very shy and awkward with ladies, and I did not know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits,” he had said.
2. Kajol thought that Simran was a “little boring”
Kajol, while talking about her character Simran had confessed that she had found her to be a “little boring”.
“I thought Simran was a little boring, to be honest, but I recognised her”, the actor said. “I realised there is a lot of Simran in almost everybody we know, there is always that wanting to do the right thing in someone. A lot of people don’t do the right thing but we always want to do that. You want to get that approval; you want to get that feeling of you are approved of and that you are doing something right in the world. So, yes Simran was like that. I thought she was just cool, a little old-fashioned but cool.”
3. The film was made on a budget of INR 4 crores
The film, which was also shot in Europe and London, was made on a budget of INR 4 crores. Though it doesn’t seem like a lot by today’s standards, it was a pretty hefty amount back in the day. However, the money was well spent as the film went on to collect Rs 89 crores in India and INR 13.5 crores in the overseas market in the year of its release i.e. 1995.
4. Raj and Simran’s car ride through Zurich had a special backseat guest
SRK and Kajol weren’t the only two enjoying a ride through Zurich in the former’s cherry red convertible. Director Aditya Chopra, who wanted to monitor the scene closely, was actually lying across the car’s backseat during all the romantic scenes.
5. It is the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema
DDLJ is the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. The film is still being shown at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai.
