Kajol on 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: The film has become a national treasure

October 20, 1995, marked a turning point in Hindi cinema with the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Directed by Aditya Chopra and featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as the iconic Raj and Simran, the film has since become a timeless classic cherished by audiences across India and beyond.

With DDLJ completing 30 years, Shah Rukh reflected on the love that he has received for playing Raj. Speaking to Variety, he said, “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years since Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released. I’m truly grateful for all the love that I have received from people from across the world for playing Raj. Nobody could have foreseen the kind of place the film made in the hearts of people around the world. I also feel that it has had such a happy effect on the pop culture of India and South Asia.”


Talking about the film’s enduring magic, Kajol told BT, “DDLJ is something that I think will never be repeated by anybody across the world, in any country or in any language, for that matter. It is phenomenal because of all the people who have watched it and made it part of their homes, traditions and lives, and made it part of their children’s lives as well.”

Kajol, who portrayed the vibrant Simran, added, “I wanted my children to watch DDLJ. Now they’ve grown up, and they would want their children to watch it as well. So, it has become something like a national treasure that has been passed down generations.” Proud of the film’s legacy, she said, “I am super proud to be a part of that. But I don’t think that I can take sole credit for it!”