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Shah Rukh Khan is in a league of his own. With his hard work and resilience, he has earned the titles of ‘Bollywood Badshah’ and ‘King of Romance’ among others.
Raj and Simran’s Karva Chauth scene is a memorable part of DDLJ. (File Photo)
King Khan turns 59 today. However, he doesn’t look it, does he? Just like the actor’s fresh appeal, his classic 1990s and 2000s movies are fresh in our minds to date.
Shah Rukh Khan’s contribution to the Hindi film industry is unrivalled. From being an outsider in the field, he has made his mark as one of the most successful and revered actor-producers of Bollywood. His latest high-octane releases like Jawan, Dunki, and Pathaan have won hearts. Even his cameos in films like Tiger 3 and Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva have a separate fanbase.
Besides his recent hits, his classics like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) have entertained masses for ages and are still continuing to do so. Shah Rukh Khan’s role as Raj opposite Kajol (as Simran) in DDLJ established him as the king of romance in Bollywood.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: A YRF Masterpiece
Yash Raj Films is the proud owner of the production rights of the 1990s hit family drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Aditya Chopra hit the jackpot with his directorial debut with this film, as it had unimaginable success and even paved the way for Indian films’ global reach thereafter.
Made on a budget of Rs 4 crore, it earned Rs 89 crore in India and Rs 13.5 crore overseas. DDLJ is also the longest-running Hindi film in the history of Indian cinema, as it ran in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir for over 25 years. The film won 10 Filmfare awards, including SRK bagging the Best Actor title. However, there was a possibility of someone else receiving the award as Raj of DDLJ.
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Shah Rukh Khan Was Not The First Choice For DDLJ
DDLJ, the movie which is a guidebook for 1990s Indian romance, wasn’t originally envisioned to be one. Director Aditya Chopra wanted Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to be a blend of Hollywood and Bollywood with an American boy (to be played by Tom Cruise), falling in love with an Indian girl, Kajol. However, his father and producer of the movie, Yash Chopra, advised him to rework the story and change the male lead character from a foreigner to an NRI.
Even after that, Simran (played by Kajol) might have ended up with a different Raj. The movie that has etched SRK’s name in our hearts wasn’t offered to him first. He was considered for the lead role only after Bollywood’s three other popular Khans – Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan – rejected the offer. Not just the actor selection, but the music composition of the film is another interesting aspect to know about.
ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan Wasn’t Willing To Do DDLJ, Here’s What Aditya Chopra Advised Him: ‘Don’t Shut Doors…’
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: Interesting Facts About DDLJ’s Music Composition
- Jatin and Lalit composed the music of DDLJ in four and a half months, which became one of their most successful projects. They felt honoured to get a chance to work with Lata Mangeshkar for the movie.
2. The song that has become an inseparable part of the Indian wedding playlist, ‘Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna’, was originally intended for another movie. But Aditya Chopra’s liking for its vibe made him include it in DDLJ.
3. According to reports, the romantic anthem ‘Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam’ had troubles during its shoot. The shooting of the iconic sarso ka khet (mustard field) scene in Haryana upset its plot owners. However, SRK handled the situation like a pro.
4. Kajol was hesitant to dance around her room in a fresh-out-of-a-shower look in a fluffy towel in the song ‘Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye’. However, thanks to her finally saying yes to doing it, fans got a memorable scene to stay hooked to, even after 29 years.
29 Years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Recently, on October 29, 2024, the iconic Raj-Simran love story turned 29, which also happened to be the Karva Chauth day. On the occasion of the film’s anniversary, Kajol took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post of a poster of the film, captioning it as “29 years to the OG of Karva Chauth…maybe go to Maratha mandir and see the film”. Its context is Kajol celebrating Karva Chauth in the film and pretending to faint from hunger in the song Ghar Aaja Pardesi.
ALSO READ: Kajol Didn’t Agree With Simran Fasting for Karwa Chauth in DDLJ: ‘Bhookha Kisko…’
With the right amount of passion, humour, cultural representation and emotional aspects, DDLJ redefined romance in Indian cinema. Regarding the film’s relevance in present times, Kajol said, “It’s the longest-running film in the world right now. And it will continue to break its own record every year.“
