Bollywood fans in London, or those planning a trip to the city, it’s time to head on down to Leicester Square, pronto. That’s because a brand new statue has just been unveiled in the area, honouring two Bollywood legends. Commemorating 30 years of ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (aka ‘DDLJ’)which is the longest-running Hindi film of all time, the Bollywood statue depicts a scene from the film, featuring ‘King of Bollywood’ Shah Rukh Khan and his co-star Kajol.
It’s the first statue of its kind honouring Indian cinema in the capital, and you’ll find it in Leicester Square’s iconic ‘Scenes in the Square‘. This public exhibition sees bronze statues scattered around the area (and even perched on top of buildings), depicting cinematic and pop culture icons. Visitors can spot the likes of Paddington Bear, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Bridget Jones, and more. And now, it also features the Bollywood icons.
‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (aka ‘DDLJ’)
It’s a fitting location for the statue; some of the film’s shots take place in the square itself. The movie also features scenes in Horseguards Avenue, Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, and King’s Cross Station.
‘DDLJ’ 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.
The modern Bollywood classic is also so popular that it was recently adapted into a stage show. ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical’ ran in Manchester earlier this year.
Scenes in the Square
The new Bollywood statue is the latest addition to Leicester Square’s iconic ‘Scenes in the Square’ collection. This follows the recent unveiling of the Bridget Jones statue, just a few weeks ago. Prior to these additions, Daniel Kaluuya’s character from ‘Get Out’ joined the square’s unmoving residents last year.
Other cinematic legends represented in the sculptural trail include comedy legends, characters from 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.
Speaking at the launch, Shah Rukh Khan said, “DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why DDLJ has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now! Personally, DDLJ is part of my identity, and it is humbling to see film, and Kajol and me, receiving so much love since it was released.”
Said Kajol:
“It’s incredible to see Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge continue to receive so much love, even 30 years later. Watching the statue being unveiled in London felt like reliving a piece of our history – a story that has truly travelled across generations.”
🎥 Find out more about ‘Scenes in the Square’ here.
