A week after its grand release in 1997, Dil To Pagal Hai was already a massive hit. The film, which is set to re-release this Friday, had captured the audience’s hearts. When I visited Yash Chopra at his bungalow, he greeted me with a warm hug and said “Please congratulate me! My film is a roaring success. People just can’t get enough of it,” he beamed. “Shah Rukh called just five minutes ago, saying he couldn’t get tickets for his family. This proves that love stories will never go out of fashion. When a film clicks, the entire industry benefits.”
Aditya Chopra’s Influence On The Film’s Look
Yash Chopra openly credited his son, Aditya Chopra, for the film’s youthful and stylish appeal. “Adi keeps up with world cinema trends. The look of Dil To Pagal Hai is entirely his idea,” he admitted. However he also added that tradition remained key and said, “You must have noticed Madhuri Dixit’s character wears only salwar-kameez and sarees. Being trendy doesn’t mean abandoning culture. My heroines always look sophisticated in sarees.”
---Advertisement---
The Magic Of Music
One of the biggest strengths of Dil To Pagal Hai was its chart-topping music. Yashji couldn’t stop praising composer Uttam Singh“ where he had said, "Oh ho ho! Kya gaane Uttam Singh ne banaaye. He offered me nearly 150 tunes, from which I selected 11. I was sure I’d work with him again.” Interestingly, they never collaborated after this film.
---Advertisement---
The legend also expressed deep admiration for Lata Mangeshkar. “She is my Mata Saraswati. She sang all the songs except one. I don’t know how she sounds so young at her age. I told Adi we won’t make a film without her voice for as long as I am alive. See how she lights up Madhuri’s dances in Dil To Pagal Hai.”
Casting Challenges And Karisma Kapoor’s Entry
Yash Chopra had revealed that the casting process had its share of hurdles. “Shah Rukh and Madhuri were always our first choices for Rahul and Pooja.But finding Nisha was tough. Almost every actress turned us down, fearing Madhuri’s presence would overshadow them. Thankfully, Karisma Kapoor accepted.”
Drawing a parallel, Yash had also remarked, “Imagine if Vyjayanthimala had refused Devdas for the same reason! Dil To Pagal Hai proved that every role shines when done right.”
Even decades later, the film remains a testament to Yash Chopra’s belief in eternal love stories.