As Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) celebrates its 30th anniversary, Pooja Ruparel, fondly known as Chutki from the film, has shared her experiences of shooting with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. In an interview, Ruparel reminisced about her time on set and the dynamic between the lead pair.
Ruparel described Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as "fire and water," highlighting their contrasting personalities. Despite their differences, their strong friendship and chemistry left a lasting impression on her. She fondly remembers watching them "simulate the most perfect romance, and then go back to being friends after the director called 'cut'". This "emotional dexterity" fascinated her as a teenager. There was buzz on set about Kajol falling in love.
Pooja Ruparel's association with Shah Rukh Khan began before DDLJ, with King Uncle. She noted the significant change in his stardom by the time DDLJ was filmed, recalling, "His life changed after Deewana, in terms of how the world saw him". Despite the immense fame, she found him to be the same "gentle, generous, and intelligent soul".
Describing Kajol, Ruparel said, "Kajol is like a feminist class wrapped into a person". She admired Kajol's confidence and how she was "always her truest self, just bouncing off the walls". Ruparel admitted that she "always thought I wanted her confidence".
Reflecting on her involvement in the iconic film, Ruparel expressed immense gratitude. "Being a small part of something this huge is the biggest part of my life,” she stated. She acknowledged the film's incredible run in theaters for the past 30 years, a feat she believes no one else in the world can claim. She humorously added, "I can officially never throw myself a pity party again. Something I created for a short amount of time brought a lot of joy for a long amount of time".
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, directed by Aditya Chopra in his directorial debut and produced by Yash Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner, was released on October 20, 1995. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan as Raj Malhotra and Kajol as Simran Singh. The movie was filmed in India, London, and Switzerland. The film redefined romance in Bollywood and holds the record for the longest-running film in Indian cinema, having played continuously at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir theatre since its release. DDLJ was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1995. The film also secured the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.
