Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by Aditya Chopra, completes 25 years today. The film remains the most iconic love story in Hindi cinema, and Raj and Simran epitomise true love on the silver screen. On this special occasion, the King of Romance aka Shah Rukh Khan reveals that he never thought he could pull off a romanctic hero on screen.
SRK says, “Raj was unlike anything I had done. Before DDLJ, there was Darr, Baazigar, Anjaam—films 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 and Yashji 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.
“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 realized 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.”
Written and directed by debutant Aditya Chopra, DDLJ shattered all box office records and is one of the biggest all-time blockbusters in the history of Hindi cinema. It also went on to become the longest-running Hindi film of all time. DDLJ was also the winner of a record-breaking (at the time) 10 Filmfare Awards and it changed the face of Bollywood globally.
The film was made on a budget of 4 crore and it collected 89 crore in India and 13.50 crore in overseas markets in 1995. The total collections stood at 102.50 crore worldwide in 1995. In today’s inflation adjusted value, DDLJ’s collection would stand at a staggering 455 crore in India and 69 crore in overseas territories, taking the total worldwide collections to a phenomenal 524 crore.
Shah Rukh goes on to say that he is shy around women and didn’t know how he’d 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 ‘chocolaty’ would make me unsuitable for romantic roles. Also, I am very shy and awkward with ladies, and I didn’t know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits.”
Lovingly called King Khan by his fans, SRK adds, “I have to admit, for someone who doesn’t like mushy, romantic films, the scenes with Kajol and I did make me feel all fuzzy and warm. There, I said it!” He also reveals, “I don’t change the radio channel when a DDLJ song comes on. I can never get sick of them. They bring back memories of a film that shaped my path forward in an unforgettable way.” SRK reveals that he didn’t expect the train sequence to become iconic when they were shooting it. “There could have been no other ending, but I did not think it would be as iconic as it eventually turned out to be,” he says.
SRK credits DDLJ for catapulting him to superstardom. He says, “I think DDLJ helped me cement my place and brought me fame in a way that I didn’t think it would. We were all living in the moment, trying to make the best film we could. There are so many reasons attributed to its success, but I don’t think any one specific thing can explain the phenomenon it has become. I think all the success is to be credited to the pure heart with which the film was made by Adi, Yashji, and the entire cast and crew and my non-existent ‘good looks’.”
He adds, “As for perception, I always felt that I can play more unconventional roles because of my looks, but DDLJ has believed that and I still struggle to make that one macho unconventional kick ass character which suits me, or so I thought, but it’s been a struggle to not be considered romantic and sweet for the last 25 years- a struggle, I guess, I am happy to lose.”