Shah Rukh, Kajol get nostalgic

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol got into the nostalgic spirit on the 25th anniversary of their hit film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jay enge and have changed their Twitter display names to Raj Malhotra and Simran, their characters from the movie. On the occasion, Khan reminisced about themovie and his role. “I always felt Iwas not cut out to play any romantic type of character,” Khan said on Tuesday.

The actor said, “Raj was unlike anything I had done. Before DDLJ, therewere films like Darr, Baazigar, Anjaam, in which I had portrayed negative characters. Also, I always felt that I wasn’t cut out to play any romantic type of character. So, when Iwas presented with the opportunity by Adi [ director Aditya Chopra] and Yash ji of essaying the role, Iwas excited towork with him but had no idea howto go about it and also if Iwould be able to do it well.”

“Actually, I always felt Adi’s love for me made him cast me. I found the character endearing and sweet in the rightway— the- over- the- topness ismy contribution. Itwas one of those roles that I realised can do with me using a version ofmy real self so you might see some quirks, habits and mannerisms thatwere true tomyoff- screen persona, especially the sense of humour part,” Khan added.

Khan goes on to say that he is very shy around womenand did not know how he would pull offthe romantic scenes in DDLJ. “Iwas told by many people that I looked unconventional, very different from what the perception of a leading manwas. I did feel, maybe, not being handsome enough or as they called it then ‘ chocolatey’ would makeme unsuitable for romantic roles. Also, I amvery shy and awkward with ladies, and I did not know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits,” he said.

He further revealed that playing the character of Raj in the film had made him feel all ‘ fuzzy’ and ‘ warm’. “I have to admit, for someonewho does not like mushy, romantic films, the scenes with Kajol and I did make me feel all fuzzy and warm. There, I said it!” he said.

For Kajol, DDLJ is amovie that will go downin the history of Indian cinema. “I think DDLJ is timeless because everybody identifies somewhere downthe line with Simran and with Raj. I think they just like these characters a lot. They have liked them for years and years nowand it’s one of those things that you always like and probably will always like,” the actress said.

The character played by the actor, Simran, redefined the portrayal ofwomen on screen. However, the Dilwale actor found the character a ‘ little boring’. “I thought Simran was a little boring, to be honest, but I recognised her. I realised there is a lot of Simran in almost everybody we know, there is always that wanting to do the right thing in someone. Alot of people don’t do the right thing butwe always want to do that. Youwant to get that approval, youwant to get that feeling of you are approved of and that you are doing something right in theworld. So, yes Simran was like that. I thought shewas just cool, a little old- fashioned but cool,” she said.— ANI