Cult classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) will be the first Indian film to be immortalised at London’s “Scenes in the Square” film trail in Leicester Square. As per Variety, after a five-year planning process, stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol will both earn bronze statues thanks to their iconic romantic comedy. The statue will be positioned on the eastern terrace outside the Odeon cinema.
Longtime fans know that DDLJ follows a single love story that spans continents. In fact, the film kicks off in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London, with other well-known sites in the city also appearing in the film. Leicester Square is also the place where the leads Raj and Simran meet for the first time, making it a fitting spot for their adventures to be immortalised.
“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,” said Yash Raj Films (YRF) CEO Akshaye Widhani.
“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to add to our trail Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who are such titans of international cinema,” expressed Mark Williams, deputy chief executive at Heart of London Business Alliance.
Williams added, “We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognised on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel and Hardy to Harry Potter. The statue is a fitting tribute to the global popularity of Bollywood and a celebration of London’s rich diversity.”
Other characters accompanying Bollywood’s beloved romantic pair are Bugs Bunny, Mary Poppins, Mr Bean, Paddington, and DC superheroes Batman and Wonder Woman.
In February, Britain’s railway system joined forces with YRF to celebrate both 200 years of the railway and the 30th anniversary of DDLJ. The collaboration centered around the film’s stage adaptation, Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical.
Suzanne Donnelly, Executive Director of Railway 200, said of the collaboration, “The railway has long inspired filmmakers and helped to shape our cultural landscape. Its bicentenary this year provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this hugely successful, rail-related Bollywood blockbuster, and its new musical opening in the UK this summer.”
The musical will be premiering at Manchester Opera House on May 29.