‘ DDLJ’ STATUE TO BE UNVEILED IN LONDON

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge ( DDLJ) turns 25 years old today, and ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra recalled working on the project.

Malhotra designed Kajol’s costumes in the film, and outfits such as the shiny green lehenga she wore in the song Mehndi Lagake Rakhna went on to become a rage at the time.

“For a film, the most important part is the script. It’s the narrative and the vision of the director. Therewas something so refreshing about the film and their characters thatwas a golden opportunity to do something new. I am always determined when I come into films. I would want to do something that stands out and give all characters a look that will stay on. When Adi [ director Aditya Chopra] narrated the DDLJ script, wewent crazy about it,” Malhotra recalled.

“Adi was very clear that hewanted Kajol to be real, but yet there is a clever quotient to her, and that synergy, I think, came across strongly in DDLJ’s costumes thatwere relatable and yet there was something new and special about them. I think that’s what stayed on with the characters. Itwas real yet it had a certain dreamy, certain aspirational and style element, and that worked,” the designer added.

Released on October 20, 1995, the romantic film starred Kajol with Shah Rukh Khan, went on to become one of the most successful Indian films in history. Late actor Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, Farida Jalal, Parmeet Sethi and Mandira Bedi played pivotal roles in the movie. The film is also recalled after all these years for Jatin- Lalit’s music.