It might come as a surprise to Shah Rukh Khan and DDLJ fans that King Khan wasn't actually the first choice to play Raj... this other Khan was!
A still from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge; picture/mid-day archives
To say that 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' is a cult classic is an understatement. DDLJ, as it's fondly called, is a romantic masterpiece that despite having released in 1995, still manages to steal hearts with its storyline, vibrant music and breathtaking locales. Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead, DDLJ became a sort of benchmark for romantic movies that were made after its release.
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Directed by Aditya Chopra in what was his directorial debut, SRK played the carefree Raj, while Kajol played the reticent Simran. Raj and Simran fall in love while vacationing in Europe and they want to get married, but Simran's father, played by the inimitable Amrish Puri, doesn't approve of this union. What happens next is a rollercoaster ride of true-blue Bollywood drama, song and dance sequences, and just a lot of fun.
But did you know, Shah Rukh Khan wasn't meant to play Raj? Can you think of DDLJ without SRK? Apparently, Saif Ali Khan was approached to play the part, but his dates weren't available, and the role finally went to Shah Rukh Khan. Director Aditya Chopra even wanted an international star, specifically Tom Cruise, to play Raj opposite Kajol. Aditya's father and producer Yash Chopra, however, wasn't keen on this idea.
Besides SRK, there was another DDLJ actor who wasn't the first choice for his role! Parmeet Sethi, who played Kuljeet in the film, said Aditya Chopra had signed someone else to play the part. He said, "Initially, director Aditya Chopra had signed someone else for the role, but I convinced him to let me give it a shot and the rest is history. I am overwhelmed and privileged to be part of the DDLJ family."
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is the sort of film that you can watch anytime and still feel a wave of nostalgia run through you. Now, Aditya Chopra's masterpiece is all set to be recreated for Broadway. 'Come… Fall In Love. DDLJ - The Musical' is being produced by Yash Raj Films. Set to be on stage in the Broadway season of 2022-2023, the team is looking at a World Premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in September 2022.
Talking about his Broadway debut, Aditya Chopra said in an interview with mid-day, "26 years later I will be directing DDLJ all over again but this time as an English language Broadway Musical for a worldwide audience. I’m terribly nervous and incredibly excited. I’m a hardcore cinema guy, I have never done theatre in my life and here I am trying to pull off the craziest ambition of my life."
So even after 26 years since its release, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge still feels fresh and fun, and garners the same kind of love it did back then!
Also read: Shah Rukh Khan's evergreen dialogues that won our hearts
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