Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol photographed at the NDTV studio in New Delhi.
For the two people in the world who don't know this - the cast of Rohit Shetty's new film
Dilwale includes the original
Dilwala and his
Dulhania, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. They were in the NDTV studio with co-stars Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon on Wednesday and we grabbed the chance to ask why SRK's character in the new film is still named Raj while Kajol's is called Meera. SRK and Kajol became Bollywood's most-loved
Jodi as Raj and Simran in 1995 hit
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, riding into the sunset onboard Indian Railways. 20 later, whatever happened to Simran after she caught the train?
The explanation came from Shah Rukh Khan. "I like variety. At least the name keeps changing so I can fool myself. Who am I seeing? Simran. Who am I seeing? Anjali. Who am I seeing? Meera. I'm a one woman man, only the name keeps changing,' said SRK, as Meera/Simran giggled next to him.
A rose is a rose by any other name, then? Potential
Dilwale ticket buyers should not, however, show up expecting a love story similar to
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Two decades later, there's what SRK politely describes as 'angst' between Raj and the heroine formerly known as Simran. "22 years later you see each other, you get a little angry with each other," SRK said.
He was joking then, but dead serious when he added, "In today's time and stage we'll look very stupid doing something similar to
DDLJ and saying things like, '
Bade bade deshon me aisi choti choti baatein hoti rehti hai'." It seems that in the 20 years that have gone by, Bollywood has grown up somewhat, as has its audience. (Also Read:
An Ego Battle? Dilwale vs Bajirao Mastani Clash Gets Dirty)
SRK and Kajol, who have appeared in films such as
Baazigar,
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,
Karan Arjun and
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham together, remain the definitive screen couple when it comes to Bollywood romances. Asked by an audience member if they would've dated each other had they been single when they met, Kajol said: "I don't know. I was already seeing Ajay (Devgn) when we met. I was six months into the shooting of
Baazigar." SRK, who never lets a joke-making opportunity pass him by, cut in and said, "Even I was seeing Ajay Devgn at that time," to general amusement.
Kajol, now 41, all but retired from cinema after marrying Ajay Devgn in 1999. The last time she was seen onscreen was in 2010's
My Name Is Khan, opposite SRK, and
We Are Family. So when Rohit Shetty offered her
Dilwale, Kajol was puzzled initially. "I said, 'I really need to hear the script,' and he said, 'yes, of course.' After I heard the script I was like, 'Wow, that's really good.' I liked the script and my character. And then I always say, when I do a film with Shah Rukh, he's my added bonus to the film," she said. (Also Read -
Dilwale Spoiler: A Stunning Revelation in the Sneak Preview)
That was a joke-making opportunity right there. "I'm the 20 per cent extra detergent powder," Shah Rukh Khan explained.
As a grand finale, we asked Team
Dilwale, "
Dil aur dimag ki jung mein jeet kiss ko hogi?" The reply was instant and collective. They all looked up and said, "
Hamare paas dil hai."
Tumhare paas kya hai? Dilwale ticket? Until then, just press play.
Dilwale is one of this week's two big releases, the other being director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.