Bollywood fans descended on London’s Leicester Square as Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol unveiled a bronze statue of their iconic characters, Raj and Simran, on the 30th anniversary of their film ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. SRK, suited up while Kajol rocked a saree for the event that saw them drawing the curtain to display their live-sized statues. This was the first Indian film to receive the honour and join the ranks of global favourites such as ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Paddington’ and ‘Batman’.
Kajol on unveiling the statue in the rain
During media interactions, Kajol shared a light-hearted moment about the ceremony’s rainy weather. Speaking to BBC, she quipped, “His (SRK) introduction in DDLJ was in the rain, and here we have the statue being inaugurated, in the rain. It was meant to be.”
Shah Rukh takes note of Yug and Nysa ‘s outfits
Shah Rukh then pointed out a coincidence that had everyone smiling. “It’s so strange that her son is wearing a leather jacket, and her daughter is dressed up in a white salwar kameez!” he said, noting how Yug and Nysa appeared in outfits uncannily similar to Raj and Simran’s iconic looks. Kajol laughed, adding, “I know! It was not planned, it just happened!”
Yug and Nysa channel Raj and Smiran
SRK on DDLJ
Reflecting on the honour, Shah Rukh expressed heartfelt gratitude in a statement to the media, saying, “I’m very fortunate to have been part of cinema like this and very grateful. I think none of us, to be honest, had any idea DDLJ would become this in people’s hearts,” he told reporters. “I am sure Adi (Aditya Chopra) and all felt it would be a good film and everybody would like it, but I don’t think anyone would have ever imagined what it became and what it stands for.”He also fondly recalled the film’s shoot. “It started off as a set of youngsters making DDLJ, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar was an AD then. It was a fun trip of 30–40 days, and we made it very fast, especially in Switzerland and England… quite a free-wheeling shoot, handheld. Especially here in Leicester Square, we didn’t even tell anyone, we did a quick scene and got away with it,” he revealed.
SRK and Kajol’s projects
On the work front, SRK is currently busy working on his next action film ‘King’ he will be seen sharing screen space with daughter Suhana Khan and will reunite with Deepika Padukone and Rani Mukerji, for the film that also stars Abhishek Bachchan in a lead role. Kajol, on the other hand, wrapped up the first season of her celebrity talk show with Twinkle Khanna.
