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

Filmmaker Aditya Chopra's debut, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), drastically redefined Indian romantic cinema when it hit theaters in 1995. As the iconic film celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, actress Pooja Ruparel, who played the role of Chutki (Kajol’s younger sister), recently shared insights into the off-screen bond between the film's lead stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.

She revealed in a conversation with Screen, "My equation with SRK started from King Uncle. His life changed post Deewana, the way people saw him. I have to give him credit that when I met him the second time, his life was not the same at all, but he was. That is the true mark of a gentleman. He is such a gentle, generous and giving soul, and an interesting, intelligent person."

"Kajol is a feminist class wrapped into a person. I always thought I wanted her confidence. She was bouncing off the walls, being her truest self. She was just being her. She and SRK were very good friends. As a teenager, seeing two co-actors, who were with different people, one married, the other getting married, just falling in love… There was buzz on set about her just falling in love, and they were such great co-actors who could simulate the most perfect romance, and after the cut, they were friends again. Seeing that dexterity in people was great, I was soaking it all in," she further added.

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Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), released in 1995, is an iconic Indian Hindi-language musical romance film. It marked the successful directorial debut of Aditya Chopra and was produced by his father, Yash Chopra. The story follows Shah Rukh Khan as Raj and Kajol as Simran, two young non-resident Indians who fall in love while vacationing across Europe. The central conflict arises when Raj must attempt to win over Simran's conservative family, whose father has already promised her hand in marriage to a friend's son.

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The film's production spanned from September 1994 to August 1995, with shooting locations in India, London, and Switzerland. DDLJ achieved massive success, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 1995 and one of the most successful Indian films in history. It earned an estimated total gross of ₹102.5 crore (with an adjusted gross of Rs 524 crore today). Its success was recognized critically as well: DDLJ secured 10 Filmfare Awards—setting a record at the time—and also received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Additionally, its soundtrack album became one of the most popular of the 1990s.