Under the grey skies of London, a city that played a pivotal role in their on-screen romance three decades ago, Bollywood royalty Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol reunited for a historic moment. The pair appeared in Leicester Square to unveil a statue immortalizing their iconic characters, Raj and Simran, from the 1995 classic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Speaking exclusively to Haroon Rashid, the duo reflected on the film’s undying legacy, which Khan jokingly described as “a bad habit you can’t get rid of.”
The unveiling was a surreal “full circle” moment for the actors. Standing in the rain—a weather condition synonymous with the film’s climax—Khan and Kajol expressed their gratitude for being honored alongside cinematic legends like Harry Potter, Paddington Bear, and Mary Poppins. Kajol, accompanied by her children Nysa and Yug, shared her awe at the longevity of a film made before they were even born. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she admitted. “I think the one thing that I will treasure is the fact that all four of us were standing in front of it… Seeing something that you worked on 30 years ago still having so much relevance today is a little unbelievable.”
The cultural impact of DDLJ continues to ripple through modern pop culture, touching even the next generation of the Khan family. When asked about his son Aryan Khan referencing the famous “Palat” scene in his new Netflix series, The Bastards of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan remained humble. “I can’t take the credit for all of it,” he said, attributing the magic to director Aditya Chopra and the entire team. He noted the poetic coincidence of the day: “His [Aryan’s] introduction in DDLJ was in the rain, and here we have the statue being inaugurated in the rain. It was meant to be.”
Beyond the professional accolades, the interview shed light on the deep personal bonds forged on the sets of DDLJ. The film, often cited as the catalyst for the “domino effect” that shaped modern Bollywood, led to lifelong friendships between the stars and filmmakers like Karan Johar and Farah Khan. However, that friendship doesn’t grant immunity from playful grievances. Kajol jokingly confronted Khan about his absence from her recent chat show. “I felt really bad,” Khan confessed, citing a filming schedule and an injury as the reasons. “It was just the timing of it… It’s my penance that I wasn’t on the show, I’ll watch all of them.”
The conversation inevitably turned to Shah Rukh Khan’s signature open-arms pose, a move that was prominently displayed on the red carpet of the Met Gala earlier this year. When asked if the pose is a blessing or a curse, the actor responded with his trademark wit. “It just shows I have very limited talent, this is the only thing I can do!” he laughed. He revealed the iconic move was born out of convenience when he couldn’t master complex choreography. “It started with convenience, became a necessity, became iconic, and now it’s the sole reason for the existence of this world,” he quipped, comparing it to the answer to life, the universe, and everything. “It works for everything. If somebody shouts at you, you do it. If somebody asks ‘Do you love me?’, you do it. It works.”
