Aditya Chopra’s 'dictator' approach on DDLJ set revealed

Aditya Chopra, known for his reclusive nature and recent appearance in Netflix’s The Romantics documentary, has been described as a 'dictator' by his colleagues from the making of his iconic debut film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).

In a candid interview shared on the Yash Raj Films YouTube channel, legendary choreographer Saroj Khan recalled a tense moment during the production when Chopra nearly fired her for being late. “Adi was about to throw me out of the picture,” Saroj Khan shared. “I arrived one day late, and they were about to shoot a key song. He was shouting and telling his father, ‘I’m going to throw out Saroj ji.’” Saroj Khan, however, managed to arrive on time before any drastic action was taken.

Uday Chopra, Aditya’s brother, reflected on his sibling’s determination to follow his own path, despite advice from seasoned professionals.

“Nobody knew what was going on in Adi’s mind,” Uday said. He added that even industry veterans like Saroj Khan and cinematographer Manmohan Singh had expressed concerns about the film’s direction. "Saroj ji was telling him, ‘Adi, what are you doing? You’re messing this up,’ but Adi still trusted his instincts."

Shah Rukh Khan, who starred in DDLJ alongside Kajol, also recounted how Aditya Chopra refused to compromise his vision. “He said, ‘If I go wrong, it should be my wrong.’ He was very clear that he wouldn’t do something he didn’t believe in,” Shah Rukh explained.

The actor added that despite the presence of senior members of the technical team, Aditya Chopra trusted his gut and stayed true to his creative choices.

Karan Johar, who worked as an assistant director on DDLJ, gave a similar account of Aditya Chopra’s approach.

Describing him as a "dictator," Karan Johar said, “It’s his way or the highway. His clarity is something I want to emulate.” Karan Johar noted that Aditya Chopra’s early confidence and strong sense of direction contributed to the film’s lasting success.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, released in 1995, became a monumental hit and is often hailed as one of the greatest films in Hindi cinema. The film not only solidified Aditya Chopra’s position as a leading filmmaker but also established Shah Rukh Khan as the top star of his generation. Despite the monumental success of DDLJ.