London: Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol huddled under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in London to unveil their bronze likeness from an iconic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ scene.
The sculpture of the duo joins Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail depicting memorable shots from some of the world’s most famous films, with ‘DDLJ’ marking a Bollywood first and the 30th anniversary of the 1995 box-office hit. It is in this popular London square that SRK as Raj and Kajol as Simran first cross paths unknowingly.
“DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a love story, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why ‘DDLJ’ has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now,” said Khan.
The statue now forms part of the Scenes in the Square movie trail, featuring icons from global cinema on Leicester Square’s eastern terrace, outside the Odeon cinema. This recognition comes as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge continues to be celebrated worldwide for its cultural and cinematic impact since its release on October 20, 1995.
The film’s storyline follows Raj and Simran, two young non-resident Indians who meet and fall in love during a European holiday. Leicester Square and other London landmarks featured in the film, reinforcing its international appeal.
Reflecting on the film’s legacy, Shah Rukh Khan stated, “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 30 years since ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ released. It feels like it happened yesterday because ‘bade bade deshon mein aisi choti choti baatein hoti rehti hain.’ but it still feels unbelievable. 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, and I will never forget the moment when everyone started to come…see the film and fall in love.”
Kajol reflected on Simran’s role and the film’s influence, saying, “There’s a piece of DDLJ in almost every romantic film that came after it, because somewhere, history was made and it never quite left us. For me, Simran is a chapter that refuses to end. She represents millions of girls across this country—girls who want to do what their parents say, who carry tradition in one hand but still reach out for freedom with the other. That’s why she still resonates. Every time someone says, ‘Ja Simran, ja’, it signifies the belief that courage and love can coexist.”
Mark Williams, deputy chief executive at the Heart of London Business Alliance, described Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as “titans of international cinema”, noting the significance of adding their likenesses to the Leicester Square trail.
The sculpture honours the film’s achievements and recognises Bollywood’s presence in the United Kingdom, with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge still attracting audiences at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir cinema nearly three decades after its premiere.
