‘DDLJ’ has turned 25 today. How does it feel
(Laughs) It’s hard to imagine 25 years have passed. It feels surreal. Before, we enjoyed movies for 25 weeks, the Silver Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee; but now it only takes 3 days to recover the cost. But it is unbelievable. It doesn’t look like the movie has turned 25, it feels like we shot it 4-5 years ago.
‘DDLJ’ is considered an iconic movie and is celebrated even today. Did you ever think while filming that I would reach cult status?
While we were filming, we didn’t even think it would become a landmark. No one had thought something like this would happen. For me, I had just entered the movie industry. After ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun …!’, This was my second big movie. We were in awe of Amrish Puri ji, Farida Jalal ji, Achala Sachdev ji and Shah Rukh, of course, because I worked with him before on ‘Trimurti’ so I met him. I met Kajol for the first time. It was a wonderful shoot because we literally became a family. Everyone used to eat together, from Aditya Chopra, Yash Chopra to Pamela ji and all the actors. There used to be crazy scenes on sets.
I also have beautiful memories with Anupam Kher. I’ve known him since the NSD days, he used to come to see my works. He was there with me in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun …!’ further. On ‘DDLJ’, it was a romantic angle with him. He always told me to do something else (referring to their romantic scene together in DDLJ). He told me I’m very subtle (laughs) and I was like, ‘
Mere se nahi hoga ye‘. But that scene happened to become a classic scene.
Blessed to be a part of this! # 25 years of DDDLJ! https://t.co/Riw9MtcKVe
– Himani Shivpuri (@himanishivpuri) 1603170776000
How was it with Shah Rukh and Kajol? How would you define them as co-stars?
Kajol is a very temperamental person. If he likes you, then he likes you, but if not, he won’t like you (laughs). Fortunately for me, he liked it. Shah Rukh is an amazing person. I really adore it. He is such a thorough gentleman. When you enter a room, it gets up.
Humara toh shuru se tuning bann gayi thi because when we met in Mumbai, he said to me: ‘Himani ji, do you know that movie’ The one where Annie gives those ones’
I aap heroine thi aur main crowd I tha. And I was like, ‘
acha! (laughs) ‘. This is how we start.
How did you get the role in DDLJ?
I have no idea (laughs). He had just done ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun …!’ and he was doing a series on Zee TV at the time. One day, I got a call from Aditya Chopra and he said, ‘Ma’am, I’m Aditya Chopra speaking, the son of Yash Chopra ji. I’m making a movie and I have a role for you. ‘ It was so simple at the time that I said, ‘Okay, I’m filming in the Noor Mahal bungalow, come see me there (laughs).’ Imagine,
abhi toh I can’t think of doing this.
Mujhe soch ke hasi aati hai ki principal kitni bholi thi. Later, Aditya landed at Noor Mahal and began to tell the whole story. When he got to the interval, I told him that I loved his script and that I was doing it. He was like, ‘Ma’am, your role comes after the interval.’ I just fell in love with the script. This is how I bagged the film. Without effort (laughs).
While filming the movie, he suffered a personal loss. Can you tell us a bit about what happened?
If you’ve seen the movie, you must have seen that I’m not there at the climax. The entire cast is there at the climax. So just before they had to photograph the climax at a train station, Aditya’s lucky place, my husband passed away. I think there were two days left and everyone had to join. My story with Anupam also had a culmination, but my husband passed away and I got down to work.
Then I got a call from Yash Raj Films because I completely forgot about the movie. But they were so nice that I didn’t have to say anything to them. They sent me their condolences. I had to make all the arrangements for the cremation and had to bring the ashes to Dehradhun as our son was studying there. I was stuck with all of this at the time. But the movie was released and became a huge success. We saw it during the test screening. I remember Shah Rukh telling me: ‘
Himani ji, try me aapko bilkul pata nahi lagega. Go see it in theaters. See the response the public is giving to your scenes. ‘
Are there any good memories from the sets that you would like to share?
We used to eat together on the sets and Kajol was always up to mischief. She was a total tomboy. One day, he had an argument with Aditya, he just grabbed a bowl of curd and ran after him to put it on his head (laughs).
Another funny moment happened on the sets where Amrish ji used to make fun of us. ‘
Aapko humari behen kyu bana diya?‘(laughs) Because in another movie I was his sister and later in’ Pardes’ I also played the role of his sister.
Before, there were no vanity vans. So we used to share a room. I once shared a room with Farida ji. So I remember one time when Dharmendra ji came to the Filmistan studio. She was standing in the doorway to the makeup room and looking at him. He came in and greeted Farida ji. Later he introduced it to me and that was the highlight. He was so handsome at the time.
If you had to define DDLJ in one word, what would it be?
Special! The movie is a beautiful amalgam of all the right ingredients. It has a lovely story, a beautiful cast, well filmed, well directed.
If the movie is remade today, who do you think will fit the role of Raj and Simran?
It’s hard to beat Shah Rukh and Kajol, they are amazing. But if I have to choose, I think Ayushmann Khuranna or Vicky Kaushal can play Raj and Alia Bhatt could look good in the role of Simran.
Are you in contact with any of your co-stars?
Anupam and I continue to meet at some events. We recently inaugurated an initiative that was organized by the National School of Drama. When we walked as main guests,
waha pe dhol baj rahe el. Anupam joked, ‘
DDLJ ki yaad nahi aa rahi hai tumhe? Shaadi kar le kya? (laughs) ‘I’m also in contact with Farida ji and Shah Rukh, it’s intermittent. I met Kajol on the sets of a television series. She was with Ajay Devgn and they were very warm when they met me.
.
