Kajol on DDLJ's Legacy: "Create Your Own Magic, It Will Never Be the Same"

As the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, lead actress Kajol reflects on the film's lasting legacy and why its magic cannot be recreated. According to Kajol, any attempt to remake DDLJ would have to adapt the story to current times and thought processes, making it a completely different film.

"I don't think magic can be recreated. I think that if today you had to make a film, you would have to make it like DDLJ, but it will never be DDLJ. It will have to be different," Kajol said in a recent interview. She explained that changing the people, atmosphere, and societal context would fundamentally alter the language of the film, requiring filmmakers to "create your own magic."

Released in 1995, DDLJ introduced Kajol as Simran, a Londoner who falls in love with the charming Raj, played by Shah Rukh Khan. The film redefined Bollywood romance with its story of two NRI young adults and has since become a cultural phenomenon, with its songs and dialogues etched in public consciousness.

Kajol credited director Aditya Chopra's conviction and passion as the key factors behind DDLJ's enduring appeal. "It's been made with conviction and passion and those two things, I think, always translate on camera beautifully," she said. Even 30 years later, the film continues to be screened at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir, a testament to its lasting impact.

While Kajol doesn't believe in the concept of a "perfect film," she acknowledged DDLJ's remarkable longevity and the way it has been embraced and made a part of people's lives and traditions. "It is not in our control... We had finished our work 30 years ago. I think it depends on the fans, and it fully depends on all the people who have loved it, made it a part of their lives, and a part of their tradition," she said.