SRK, Kajol Celebrate DDLJ Tribute At London’s Leicester Square: Had No Idea DDLJ Would Become This Phenomenon

Marking 30 years of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol unveiled a bronze DDLJ statue of Raj and Simran at Leicester Square in London. It is the first statue there honouring an Indian film, joining well known screen characters including Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Paddington, Singin' in the Rain, Batman and Wonder Woman.

The DDLJ statue captures the famous pose of Raj and Simran from Aditya Chopra's film, which remains the longest running Hindi movie ever released. The moment chosen reflects how the film shaped pop culture for South Asians, including large communities in India, the UK and across the global diaspora.

DDLJ statue and film legacy worldwide

Released in 1995, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge quickly gained a global following and became a cultural touchstone for South Asians overseas. The DDLJ statue is part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, while the film still runs in Indian cinemas, maintaining its historic record.

Since its debut, DDLJ has held the record as the longest running title in Hindi cinema history. The movie has also drawn notice from global leaders, with President Obama referencing DDLJ during an official visit to India. In the UK, its legacy continued with stage musical Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical, staged in Manchester earlier this year.

DDLJ statue, Leicester Square and story connections

The location of the DDLJ statue is closely tied to the story. Leicester Square appears in the film when Raj and Simran unknowingly cross each other for the first time before their European journey. The sequence shows Raj near the Vue cinema and Simran walking past the Odeon Leicester Square, linking the square directly with their on-screen meeting.

DDLJ follows Raj and Simran, two non-resident Indians who start as strangers on a train leaving King's Cross station. Their journey across Europe and later India leads to a love story that connects families, tradition and life abroad, which helped the film resonate with many South Asian viewers overseas.

Detail	Information
Film	Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)
Lead cast	Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
Director	Aditya Chopra
Statue location	Leicester Square, London
Anniversary marked	30th year of DDLJ
Record	Longest running Hindi film

Stars reflect on DDLJ statue and journey

Shah Rukh Khan described surprise at the film's scale of success and the emotional value of the DDLJ statue. SRK said the team expected audiences to like the film, but not its deep hold over different generations, especially within Indian and South Asian communities at home and abroad.

"To be honest had no idea DDLJ would become this phenomenon! I'm very fortunate to have been part of cinema like this and very grateful. I think none of us, to be honest had any idea DDLJ would become this in people's hearts. I am sure Adi (Aditya Chopra) and all felt it would be a good film and everybody would like it, but I don't think anyone would have ever imagined what it became and what is stands for."

Shah Rukh Khan also linked the DDLJ statue to the rise of overseas audiences for Hindi films, especially in the UK. SRK highlighted how London and the British market shaped career paths and helped DDLJ travel far beyond India, turning a quick overseas shoot into a key chapter for Indian cinema.

"It's very personal for both of us (Kajol & Him) and for the Indian Film industry! UK, London is quite responsible for our stardom in a way because we were doing well in our country like other actors but I think we started doing a lot better in overseas and what was known as overseas principally at that time, the biggest market was UK. It started off as a set of youngsters making DDLJ, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar was an AD then. It was a fun trip of 30-40 days and we made it very fast, specially in Switzerland and England … quite a free wheeling shooting, handheld, especially here in Leicester Square we didn't even tell anyone we did a quick scene and got away with it. I think it's a moment of pride for Indian Cinema and rightly so for this to happen in UK which started off the trend of Indian film being recognised the world over."

DDLJ statue, records and nostalgia for South Asians

Kajol pointed out that DDLJ holds a world record for its continuous theatrical run and features in the Guinness Book of World Records. Kajol called the film a reference point for Indians and South Asians abroad, noting how DDLJ became a benchmark for stories about identity and belonging overseas.

"It's been 30 years and we are happy to say it's the longest running film not in India only in the world and it's actually gone into the guiness book of world record so super kicked to be a part of it. I don't think we planned for DDLJ to become a global phenomenon for Indians and South Asians. I think somewhere down the line that DDLJ has become kind of a touch stone for Indians living abroad."

Kajol also spoke about how the DDLJ statue may become a shared stop for Indians and South Asians visiting or living in the UK. The star hoped that people would see their memories reflected there and feel closer to home while standing in Leicester Square, far from their own cities and towns.

"I think for all Indians who stay in the UK or come here, it might become a moment to go see the statue, to recognise their nostalgia for the film and there is also a familiarity and there is also a massive pull towards it. So, I'm hoping that everyone feels that touch of home when they see us here in Leicester Square."

The unveiling of the DDLJ statue at Leicester Square links a landmark Indian film with a central London site already tied to the story. It reflects three decades of audience loyalty, celebrates records recognised worldwide and underlines how Raj and Simran's journey continues to mean home, romance and memory for South Asians everywhere.