Aditya Chopra Wanted Tom Cruise, Not Shah Rukh Khan As Raj In DDLJ? Know What Happened

Imagine Tom Cruise saying “Palat… Palat… Palat…” in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. There is no Shah Rukh Khan as Raj Malhotra, no iconic chemistry, and perhaps an entirely different love story unfolding against the European countryside and Punjab’s mustard fields. 

This is not just a fan-made fantasy, but Aditya Chopra himself revealed that he had once planned to make Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge with a Hollywood star.

In October 2021, Aditya Chopra announced ‘Come… Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical’. It is an English-language stage adaptation of his 1995 blockbuster. While talking about the musical, he revealed that he initially thought of making DDLJ in English. 

“As a 23-year-old young man greatly influenced by Hollywood and American pop culture, I thought I would make a couple of Indian films, and then I would be off to Hollywood and make DDLJ for a worldwide English-speaking audience with Tom Cruise as my leading man. That obviously didn’t happen,” Chopra said in a statement reported by The Economic Times.

Did Aditya Chopra Want Tom Cruise For DDLJ?

Before Shah Rukh Khan became the iconic Raj Malhotra, Aditya Chopra was thinking of casting Tom Cruise. In his version of DDLJ, Raj was an American boy who falls in love with an Indian girl. The main idea was to show cultural differences at the centre of the story and have an international setting.

According to film critic Anupama Chopra's book ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: The Making of a Blockbuster’, Yash Chopra rejected the idea. He advised his son to rework the story and make the central characters non-resident Indians instead.

As a result, the story of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge completely changed. Instead of an American man in India, the plot followed two Indians, Raj and Simran, who meet while travelling through Europe.

This version of the story instantly connected with audiences, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a huge blockbuster. 

In one of the later interviews with Hindustan Times, Aditya said that he was grateful the film took the direction it did, saying the Hindi version gave him his ‘identity’ and kick-started his filmmaking journey.

It also gave Shah Rukh Khan the role that would become one of the defining performances of his career.

(Image Credit: Instagram @srklovers)

What Did Kajol Say About Tom Cruise In DDLJ?

Kajol openly talked about the casting in an interview with Mid-Day in 2024. 

“Every director has a wishlist where you put up actors whom you want, and then after that, you come back to earth, ‘Acha theek hai normal apne desh ke hero ko lete hain’,” Kajol said, referring to the process of moving from casting dreams to practical choices.

When asked to imagine what a romantic movie with Cruise might have looked like, Kajol playfully suggested that if Cruise had starred in the film, Meg Ryan might have been his leading lady.

ALSO READ: Why Do We Keep Coming Back For Shah Rukh Khan And Kajol's Love Story In DDLJ?

Saif Ali Khan Was Also Linked To Raj Malhotra Before Shah Rukh Khan

Before Shah Rukh Khan became synonymous with Raj Malhotra, Aditya Chopra reportedly considered other actors for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Saif Ali Khan was among the alternatives.

Hindustan Times reported that Aditya began considering him after Shah Rukh initially hesitated to take up the romantic role. He said that Shah Rukh thought that romances were ‘pansy’.

India Today later reported that Saif was approached but could not do the film because of date issues, and also Shah Rukh Khan agreed.

Story Of DDLJ

Directed by Aditya Chopra, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge follows Raj Malhotra and Simran Singh, two young Indians living in London who fall in love during a trip across Europe. However, Simran’s traditional father, Baldev Singh, has already promised her in marriage to his friend’s son in India.

When Raj discovers Simran’s predicament, he travels to India, determined to win her family’s approval rather than elope with her. The film explores love, family values and the struggle between personal freedom and tradition.

(Image Credit: Reddit @BollywoodFashion)

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge: Key Details

ALSO READ: DDLJ's Chutki Aka Pooja Ruparel On SRK And Kajol's Off-Screen Chemistry: 'There Was Buzz On Set About Her Falling In Love...'

DDLJ could have taken a very different route, with Tom Cruise. But it was Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who brought Raj and Simran to life, creating a romance that continues to define Hindi cinema. 

Can you imagine DDLJ with Tom Cruise instead of SRK?

FAQs

Q1. Was Tom Cruise the first choice for DDLJ? 

A1. Aditya Chopra originally envisioned an English-language version of DDLJ starring Tom Cruise.

Q2. Who was considered for Raj in DDLJ before Shah Rukh Khan? 

A2. Saif Ali Khan was reportedly considered for the role, while claims about other actors remain disputed.

Q3. When was Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge released? 

A3. The Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer was released on October 20, 1995.