1000 weeks of DDLJ: A phenomenon relived

Shahrukh Khan and Kajol talk about the film that made them into the most-loved onscreen couple of Bollywood.

NEW DELHI: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), one of the best movies by filmmaker Aditya Chopra, completed 1,000 weeks of screening on Friday. When the film, debut-directed by Aditya Chopra, released October 20, 1995, it came as a refreshing change as well as a clutter-breaking and trend-making entertainer with all ingredients of a Bollywood masala potboiler — love, romance, comedy, action, melodrama, thrills, songs and dance, all put together cohesively to tell a story of the victory of true love.

The film’s lead pair Shahrukh Khan and Kajol recalled their fond memories of the film’s journey.

“It’s been 20 years and I feel honoured that I was part of this film. It’s been 100 years of Indian cinema and I would say one-fifth belongs to DDLJ,” Shahrukh said in a casual conversation with Kajol.

To this, Kajol added, “Pamela aunty (Aditya Chopra’s mother) had a huge contribution in putting the film together as she was coordinating with each one of us.”

She said she thought the title Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was very stupid 20 years back. DDLJ released in 1995.

“I thought it was a stupid title... Why do you want to reveal the story of the film in the title... it was so long. I just hated it, but after 20 years, I don’t feel it was a stupid title,” she said.



“Besides that, when Adi (Chopra) narrated Simran’s character, I told him she was too sweet and nice... I am not like her at all. Adi was with me throughout and he taught me each and every scene,” she said.

Shahrukh added, “Adi completely believed in this film and this film is about emotions which are beyond technique and acting... This film is not ours but it belongs to the world.”

Shahrukh also unveiled a book on Chopra by Nasreen Munni Kabir titled Aditya Chopra relives Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Chopra is known to be media shy, and “this is the closest one can get to Aditya through this book”, Shahrukh said.

DDLJ even appealed to those who aren’t particularly fond of Bollywood entertainers and prefer sci-fi Hollywood movies.

There are many unforgettable aspects of the film — the plush yellow mustard fields, the Swiss cow bell, SRK’s ‘Senorita,’ epic dialogues, Kajol’s pristine white shalwar suit and the famous climax, where Kajol runs towards her bruised lover, who’s already aboard a moving train.

Gushes Ria Malhotra, a 26-year-old: “The scene was repeated with SRK and Deepika Padukone in Chennai Express, but nothing can beat the charm of DDLJ, where a father tells his daughter to go and live her life to the fullest with the love of her life.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2014.

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