Aditya Chopra’s directorial Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) was released 30 years ago on this day. The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, Farida Jalal, among others, redefined the genre of romance on screen. To this day, it remains one of the most loved films in Indian cinema and continues to have a successful run at Mumbai’s iconic Maratha Mandir.
Kajol on the DDLJ impact
As the film completes 30 years, Kajol, who played Simran, told Hindustan Times, “We never thought hum ye legacy banake chodenge when we made this film. We just thought we were making a good film, and I am humbled by the fact that so many people and fans have made it so much bigger. They continue to make it bigger than anything will ever be, almost in the sense that they’ve made it a tradition.”
Talking about the impact the film has had on audiences, the actress shared, “I have had people come up to me and say, ‘We fell in love while watching DDLJ, and when we had kids, we made them sit and watch it with us because we wanted to share that experience with them.’ So now, they’ve passed it on to their kids as a part of their parents’ love story. They’ve intertwined it with their lives. That’s not something I can take credit for and say ye meri wajah se hua hai—not at all.”
What changes would Kajol make for Simran?
Thirty years is truly a long time, and with the passage of time comes reflection. Audiences have often discussed plot points and character development in older films. So, is there anything Kajol would change about her character Simran? Kajol strongly believes there is nothing to change. The film was made 30 years ago, and it was correct for that time and space. “Yes, today, if you take it in the current scenario, it would be a completely different story, I’m sure. But for that time and space, I think DDLJ would not be what it is if you changed anything in it.”
About DDLJ
Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol) meet during a trip across Europe and the two fall in love. However, when Raj learns that Simran is already promised to another, he follows her to India to win her and her father over.
