The most iconic film of our era celebrates 1000 weeks of running and the die-hard DDLJ lover in us is excited. From Raj and Simran’s love to the Punjabi pind DDLJ spoilt our generation to look for the ideal Raj-Simran romance. As girls started dressing up in green lungis and white suits ala Kajol, boys started learing the guitar to strum ‘tujhe dekha toh yeh jana’ to impress their girls.
Here are 5 things that changed forever post Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge:
The idea of romance: No longer was running away or eloping seen as cool. If Raj can we also can impress the parents of our other half. The prefect romance just requires two opposites to attract. And as Simran and Raj say ‘Vishwas hai? Khud se Zayda’. (trust me? More than myself)
Being Desi: Never was being a Punjabi or being from a village seen as cool as now. People loved to flaunt their Punjabi status with aplomb. The villages, yellow farms, dancing to Punjabi tracks become cult for all north Indians.
Europe dreams: I think more than half of India went to Europe and Switzerland after seeing Raj Simran romance in the beautiful mountains. Europe became the ideal of all lovers and Swiss dreams of Indians started.
Bad boy gone good: Shahrukh was seen as a perpetual bad boy who flunks and as gift wants to go on a trip to Europe and he is seen as a flirt. But true love transforms him. Kajol becomes his priority and the way Raj changes to impress Simran’s father surely sparked the project ‘let’s change this bad boy’ for most girls.
Having a wild night: Alcohol was seen as a taboo but seeing Kajol loose her inhibitions in ‘Zara Sa Jhoom Lu Main’ after a few sips of Brandy. As a teen this surely sparked my alcohol curiosity!
