From Maratha Mandir to Bronze Statue in Leicester Square: DDLJ's Everlasting Legacy

Our favourite on-screen duo, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, are set to be immortalised in bronze as DDLJ is set to receive a prestigious honour in London. The film will become the first Indian movie to be featured in Leicester Square’s renowned ‘Scenes in the Square’ movie trail. As announced by Yash Raj Films, in collaboration with the Heart of London Business Alliance, a statue celebrating the cultural impact of DDLJ will soon be unveiled, marking a historic moment for Indian cinema on a global stage.

We explore why this film is so loved and considered one of the most iconic in Hindi cinema, so many years since its release in 1995.

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The Classic Love Story ft. SRK-Kajol Chemistry

At the heart of the movie is a classic boy-meets-girl, enemies-to-lovers love story. Raj and Simran, played by SRK and Kajol, win over audiences with their banter and chemistry.

The movie shows a love that is relatable – awkward at first and deepens with time. It shows a love that fights against all constraints to bloom.

Simran, an obedient, dutiful girl, falls for the charismatic, flirtatious Raj. They travel across Europe, only to find how much opposites can attract. Shah Rukh Khan’s playful-yet-intense Raj and Kajol’s dreamy-yet-spirited Simran are at the core of the audience too, rooting for their fairytale ending.

The movie feels free to imagine and be idealistic and yet be rooted in realism. It was rebellious and revolutionary but within traditional Indian boundaries. It has a universal message that applied to all generations —that love and respect for family can go hand in hand.

Iconic Scenes, Dialogues and Music

In DDLJ, Aditya Chopra’s debut, dialogues and scenes have been immortalised through countless pop culture references and memes.

Whether it’s ‘Jaa Simran, jee le apni zindagi’or, Bade bade deshon mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hai’, dialogues from the movies find referencing often, even in 2025.

The scenes, too, have left a lasting impression. Whether it’s Simran running towards Raj in a yellow mustard field or clinging to his hand and jumping aboard the train, some scenes are as iconic as they get.

From “Tujhe Dekha Toh” to “Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna,” the soundtrack by Jatin-Lalit became anthems of love and celebration, adding to the film’s long-lasting appeal.

For many, DDLJ is more than just a movie—it’s a memory. Released in 1995, it has become a rite of passage for multiple generations. Watching it often marks a moment: the first movie you saw in a theatre, the one you re-watched with friends, or the film your parents couldn’t stop quoting. Its long-standing screening at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre became a cultural tradition in itself. Revisiting DDLJ, is revisiting a simpler, more romantic time in life, when Bollywood films were very different.

Despite some parts of it not having aged well, DDLJ’s enduring charm lies in being a movie with a stellar starcast and emotional storyline, which were accompanied by good writing, music and more – thus, being everything a Hindi movie needs to become a Blockbuster. The film made audiences laugh, cry, sing, and dance—offering everything one hopes for in a true Hindi film experience. It wasn’t just a love story; it was an emotional rollercoaster that became a cultural phenomenon.