CBFC: U 1995 ‧ Romance/Musical ‧ 3h 9m
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (transl. The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride), also known by the initialism DDLJ, is a 1995 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film written and directed by Aditya Chopra in his directorial debut and produced by his father Yash Chopra. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as Raj and Simran, two young non-resident Indians, who fall in love during a vacation through Europe with their friends. Raj tries to win over Simran’s family so the couple can marry, but Simran’s father has long since promised her hand to his friend’s son. The film was shot in India, London, and Switzerland, from September 1994 to August 1995.
With an estimated total gross of ₹102.5 crore (today’s adjusted gross ₹524 crore), with ₹89 crore (today’s adjusted gross ₹455 crore) earned in India and ₹13.50 crore (today’s adjusted gross ₹69 crore) in overseas,[2] the film was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1995 and one of the most successful Indian films in history. When adjusted for inflation, it is the second highest-grossing Indian film of the 1990s, behind Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! It won 10 Filmfare Awards—the most for a single film at that time—and the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Its soundtrack album became one of the most popular of the 1990s.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was released on 20 October 1995, and received widespread acclaim from critics. Many critics praised the performances of Kajol and Khan as well as their chemistry, and the film’s blend of simultaneously promoting strong family values and the following of one’s own heart. Its success led other filmmakers to target the non-resident Indian audience, which was deemed more lucrative for them. It spawned many imitations of its story and style and homages to specific scenes. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was one of only three Hindi films in the reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and was placed twelfth on the British Film Institute‘s list of top Indian films of all time. In 2012, the film was included by critics Rachel Dwyer and Sanam Hasan in the 2012 British Film Institute Sight & Sound 1,000 greatest films of all time.[3] The film is considered to be the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema, as its still being shown at the Maratha Mandir in Mumbai since its release on 20 October 1995, as of March 2025.[4][5]
Cast
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Credits adapted from the British Film Institute.[6]
- Shah Rukh Khan as Raj Malhotra
- Kajol as Simran “Simi” Singh
- Amrish Puri as Chaudhary Baldev Singh
- Farida Jalal as Lajwanti “Lajjo” Singh
- Satish Shah as Ajit Singh
- Achala Sachdev as Simran’s grandmother
- Himani Shivpuri as Kammo Kaur
- Anupam Kher as Dharamvir Malhotra
- Parmeet Sethi as Kuljeet Singh
- Mandira Bedi as Preeti Singh
- Pooja Ruparel as Rajeshwari “Chutki” Singh
- Anaita Shroff Adajania as Sheena, Simran’s best friend
- Lalit Tiwari as Simran’s uncle
- Karan Johar and Arjun Sablok as Monty and Rocky, Raj’s friends
