A brand new statue will be unveiled in London’s Leicester Square this Spring, honouring two Bollywood legends. To commemorate 30 years of ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (‘DDLJ’) – the longest-running Hindi film of all time – the new Bollywood statue will depict a scene from the film, featuring the ‘King of Bollywood’ Shah Rukh Khan and his co-star Kajol.
The new statue will be the first of its kind honouring Indian cinema in the capital. It will join Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ alongside other depictions of cinematic icons such as Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, and Batman. When it’s unveiled, you’ll find the statue outside the Odeon cinema.
It’s a fitting location for the statue; some of the shots take place right outside the cinema in the film. The movie also features scenes in Horseguards Avenue, Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, and King’s Cross Station.
‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ was released in 1995 and has grossed over $32 million worldwide. The now-iconic rom-com has been dubbed the Romeo and Juliet of Bollywood cinema. The love story follows Raj and Simran across Europe and India after beginning on a train from King’s Cross Station. It’s so popular that it still plays at a cinema in Mumbai.
Scenes in the Square
The new Bollywood statue will be the newest addition to Leicester Square’s iconic ‘Scenes in the Square’ collection. The most recent addition came last year, when Daniel Kaluuya’s character from ‘Get Out’ joined the square’s unmoving residents.
Image: @discoverlsq, via IG
Other cinematic legends represented in the sculptural trail include comedy legends, stars of children’s stories, and cartoon icons. These include Harry Potter, Laurel & Hardy, Bugs Bunny, Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Mr. Bean, Paddington, and DC Super-Heroes Batman and Wonder Woman.
Said Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films:
“When Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe. 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. We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognized on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema.”
The Bollywood statue will be unveiled in Leicester Square this Spring. The exact date has not yet been announced.
Find out more about ‘Scenes in the Square’ here.
