[dropcap]‘D[/dropcap]ilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, one of the best movies by filmmaker Aditya Chopra, Friday completed 1,000 weeks of screening, and the film’s lead pair Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol recalled their fond memories of the film’s journey.
“It’s been 20 years for this film 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’,” Shah Rukh 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 used to teach me each and every scene,” she said.
Shah Rukh and Kajol – who had a fractured left leg – also enacted a few scenes from the film onstage.
Shah Rukh, who also carried a bag filled with some memories of the film, said ‘DDLJ’ was a film that belongs to the world. “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,” he said.
Shah Rukh 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”, Shah Rukh said.
The actors later headed to the Martha Mandir theatre for the movie’s grand premiere.
