As the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) marks its 30th anniversary today, actress Kajol who portrayed the beloved Simran, reflected on the film’s enduring appeal, and suggested how the character’s journey might look in today’s context.
Directed by Aditya Chopra and released three decades ago, DDLJ starred Kajol alongside Shah Rukh Khan, and reshaped the romantic narrative in Indian cinema. The film remains entrenched in popular culture with showings still held at Mumbai’s famed Maratha Mandir theatre.
Reflecting on its legacy, Kajol said, “We never thought hum ye legacy banake chhodenge 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 how deeply the film has become part of fans’ lives, she added, “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.”
On whether she would change anything about her character Simran, Kajol was firm, “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.”
The film’s story follows Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol) meeting during a trip across Europe, falling in love and Raj pursuing her back in India after learning that her marriage is already fixed. As it celebrates 30 years, Kajol’s comments remind us that while the film remained true to its era, adapting it for today might require a very different narrative.
More Pages: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Box Office Collection
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