Two Bollywood icons will be immortalised in bronze at London’s Leicester Square this year after a five-year planning process.
The ‘King of Bollywood’ Shah Rukh Khan and the uber popular Kajol will have their statues unveiled at London’s ‘Scenes in the Square’, as their 1995 smash-hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) turns 30, making it the first Indian film to be honoured on the movie trail.
The statue — which will be positioned outside the Odeon cinema on the eastern terrace — will see Shah Rukh and Kajol in an iconic pose from the Yash Raj Films blockbuster rom-com. The location of the statue couldn’t be more apt, as Leicester Square features prominently in the film, being the spot where their beloved characters, Raj and Simran, first cross paths.
DDLJ is the story of Raj and Simran, whose lives intersect when they’re both taking a holiday across Europe with their friends. The two are from polar opposite backgrounds and have very different upbringings, yet they fall irrevocably in love. The movie chronicles the hardships they have to face to get acceptance from their families so that they can be together.
As the longest-running Hindi film of all time, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a landmark movie for Indian cinema, and the statue will serve as a fitting tribute to kick off the film’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Mark Williams, Heart of London Business Alliance’s deputy chief executive, said: “It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to add to our trail Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who are such titans of international cinema. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of the most successful and important Bollywood films of all time, and we’re excited by the prospect of bringing to the trail the first film that features Leicester Square as a location. The statue is a fitting tribute to the global popularity of Bollywood and a celebration of London’s rich diversity.”
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films – the production house behind the film, shared: “When Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe. We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in the UK.
He added: “We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognized on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema.”
On May 29, a musical theatre adaption of the film titled Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical, will premiere at the Manchester Opera House.
Shah Rukh and Kajol’s DDLJ statue will join the likes of Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Batman, Wonder Woman, and most recently, Daniel Kaluuya as seen in the Oscar-winning film Get Out, as it becomes just the 11th statue to be featured in the award-winning ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail.
Even though the film was released back in 1995, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is still screened in Mumbai’s iconic Maratha Mandir cinema even today, making it the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema.
Undoubtedly the most popular actor from India, Shah Rukh Khan currently ranks fourth in the latest World’s Richest Actors list. Having garnered unprecedented fame over the decades, it’s safe to say SRK has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. Several of his most successful movies have been opposite Kajol, making them one of the most beloved onscreen Bollywood couples of all time. The two also share a deep friendship outside of their work.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.
