“Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” or “The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride,” the longest-running film in Indian cinema, marked its 30th anniversary on Dec. 4, 2025, at Leicester Square, London, in the form of a bronze statue.
The statue depicts the movie’s main characters Raj Malhotra and Simran Singh, played by actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol Devgan, respectively.
Directed by Indian film director and producer Aditya Chopra, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” follows the love story of Raj and Simran, who defy societal norms of arranged marriages to sustain their relationship.
With the end of the movie following a lot of family misunderstanding and bickering, Raj leaves with Simran on a train. The credits scene rolls in, leaving the audience with a glimpse of the couple’s happily ever after, making the title truly reflective of its plot.
A film in which the setting shifts from European sites in Switzerland and London to Punjab, India, bagged cinema awards, including 10 Filmfare accolades. Filmfare Awards are considered one of the most prestigious cinema awards in India.
“Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” was first screened at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai, India in 1995. This movie featured a lineup of other seasoned stars in Indian cinema, including Anupam Kher as Dharamvir “Pops” Malhotra, Raj’s father. The late Amrish Puri played Chaudary Baldev Singh, Simran’s father and Farida Jalal as Lajwanti Singh, Simran’s mother.
According to Yash Raj Films, Khan reminisced on the movie’s impact over an extended period of time. “We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it,” Khan said at the bronze statue unveiling. “I think this is why DDLJ has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now!”
Devgan referred to the statue’s unveiling moment as a “story that travelled across generations.”
“Seeing it find its rightful place in Leicester Square, a location of such enormous significance to DDLJ, makes this moment even more special,” Devgan said in a statement.
Secret London identified the statue as the only South Asian film representation in London among its cinematic statue lineup.
BBC reported that the CEO of Yash Raj Films, Akshaye Widhani called the unveiling of the DDLJ statue a “huge moment of pride” to be witnessed in the U.K.
“To be recognized alongside Hollywood icons like Mary Poppins, Gene Kelly and Harry Potter, shows the cultural impact DDLJ has had the world over,” Widhani told IndiaWest.
Earlier in 2025, the DDLJ’s spirit was momentarily relived in a modern cinema adaptation performed in U.K.’s Manchester Opera house called, “Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ musical.”
Before the film was honored in London by unveiling the statue, the Oscars took to its Instagram page in January 2024 and shared a video of Khan and Devgan singing DDLJ’s wedding song, “Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna,” which translates to, “Be ready with henna/mehndi applied.”
Reflecting on when Widhani dropped a hint before the unveiling of the Raj and Simran statue in Leicester Square, the CEO of YRF expressed his endorsement of this installment as the pathway for Bollywood to transcend its legacy globally.
“This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema,” he said.
