Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (transl. The Big-Hearted Will Take the Bride), also known by the initialism DDLJ, is a 1995 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film, directed by Aditya Chopra in his directorial debut, produced by his father Yash Chopra, and written by Javed Siddiqui with Aditya Chopra. Released on 20 October 1995, the film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The plot revolves around Raj and Simran, two young non-resident Indians, who fall in love during a vacation through Europe with their friends. Raj tries to win over Simran’s family so the couple can marry, but Simran’s father has long since promised her hand to his friend’s son. The film was shot in India, London, and Switzerland, from September 1994 to August 1995.
Earning ₹1.06 billion (valued at about US$32,766,000 in 1995)[a] in India and ₹160 million (valued at about US$4,946,000 in 1995)[a] overseas, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became the highest grossing Bollywood film of the year, and one of the most successful Indian films in history. It won 10 Filmfare Awards—the most for a single film at that time—and the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Its soundtrack album became one of the most popular of the 1990s.
Many critics praised the film, which connected with different segments of society by simultaneously promoting strong family values and the following of one’s own heart. Its success led other filmmakers to target the non-resident Indian audience, which was deemed more lucrative for them. It spawned many imitations of its story and style and homages to specific scenes. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was one of only three Hindi films in the reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and was placed twelfth on the British Film Institute’s list of top Indian films of all time. It is the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. As of 2021, over 25 years after its first release, it is still being shown at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai.[6]
Raj Malhotra and Simran Singh are both non-resident Indians (NRI) living in London. Simran is raised by her parents, Baldev Singh and Lajwanti. Baldev Singh is a strict and conservative father, while Raj is raised by his father Dharamvir Malhotra, who is very liberal. Simran always dreams of meeting her ideal man; her mother Lajjo warns her against this, saying dreams are good, but one should not blindly believe they come true. One day, Baldev receives a letter from his friend Ajit, who lives in Punjab, India. Ajit wants to keep the promise he and Baldev made to each other 20 years ago—to have Simran marry his son Kuljeet. Simran is disappointed, as she does not want to marry someone whom she has never met.
One evening, Raj enters Baldev’s shop after closing time to buy beer. Baldev refuses, but Raj grabs a case of beer, throws money on the counter, and runs away. An infuriated Baldev calls Raj a disgrace to India. Meanwhile, Raj’s father agrees to his request to go on a train trip across Europe with his friends, and Simran’s friends have invited her to go on the same trip. Simran asks her father to let her see the world before her marriage, and he reluctantly agrees.
On the trip, Raj and Simran meet. Raj constantly flirts with Simran, much to her irritation. The two miss their train to Zürich and are separated from their friends, but start to travel together and become friends. Raj falls in love with Simran on the journey, and when they part ways in London, Simran realises she is in love with him as well. At home, Simran tells her mother about the boy she met on her trip; Baldev overhears the conversation and becomes enraged with his daughter. He says the family will move to India the next day. Meanwhile, Raj tells his father about Simran and that she will soon get married. When Raj says he believes Simran loves him too, his father encourages him to go after her. Raj goes to her house to woo her and her father, but is informed by their neighbor that they have sold their house and moved to India.
