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‘Raj and Simran’ to be immortalized with DDLJ statue in UK
The statue at Leicester Square will feature an early scene of the film, where the iconic characters played by SRK and Kajol unknowingly cross paths.
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Nandika Chand - Fri, 11, Apr 2025
- 01:30 EDT
- 364
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in 'Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' / Instagram/Yash Raj Films
The Heart of London Business Alliance will unveil a bronze statue of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Leicester Square. The statue celebrates 30 years of Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), the longest-running film in Indian cinema.
It will be the 11th statue in the award-winning Scenes in the Square trail and the first statue in London to honor Indian cinema. In a statement, Heart of London Business Alliance said the iconic Bollywood statue also marks a historic moment for the trail and for Indian cinema in the UK.
The statue will be placed in Leicester Square for a reason. According to the statement, the Square features an early scene of the film, where the two lead characters Raj and Simran, unknowingly cross paths. The bronze statue will sit outside the Odeon cinema.
Mark Williams, deputy chief executive at Heart of London Business Alliance, highlighted that the statue is a fitting tribute to the global popularity of Bollywood and a celebration of London’s rich diversity. “We’re in no doubt it will attract fans from all around the world to Leicester Square, the home of film and entertainment.”
Williams said it is fantastic to have the opportunity to add Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to the trail, which also showcases other characters including Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins, and Mr Bean. “Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of the most successful and important Bollywood films of all time, and we’re excited by the prospect of bringing to the trail the first film that features Leicester Square as a location.”
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, said DDLJ has become a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry. “We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in UK.” Widhani added that the statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema.
Directed by Aditya Chopra, DDLJ became a global blockbuster in 1995. It is still shown in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir.
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