How do you explain the long-running success of DDLJ?
There are some phenomena which defy explanation. How do you explain Lataji’s voice? How do you explain the fact that at 75 she sang like an angel in my Veer-Zara? Dilwale… is another miracle. Bhagwan ki kripa hai. I don’t deserve the success I’ve got. Yes, Dilwale… has broken all records to become the most successful Indian film ever. In 20 weeks, it’ll be completing ten years.
How do you explain that?
When it completed 200 weeks, I thought we had had our innings. But DDLJ kept growing. Now, after 500 weeks, the general-manager of Maratha Mandir tells me it can easily go on for six more months. It still goes houseful during weekends! Aditya was only 23 when he made DDLJ. I still remember the first time when he narrated the story to me. I had tears in my eyes for two reasons. Firstly, it was because my son had written it. And secondly, because it was such a heartwarming story. I knew it was going to be a hit film. But to this extent?! Never. It touched a chord in Indians all over the world. It prompted them to go back to their country, traditions and roots. DDLJ was the first romance where the boy takes the girl away only with the parents’ consent. The whole process of winning over the girl’s family was unique.
How do you rationalise its continuing success after so many years?
Log pagal nahin hain jo roz DDLJ dekhne jaate hain. Adi ne dil se banayee yeh picture. I feel the films being made today have no heart. Most of them are superficial in content. I was amazed by the depth and emotions in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. To my pride, Yashraj Films has the privilege of distributing this unique film overseas. Hats off to Sanjay for his conviction courage and confidence. He never thought of what money it would make. He did what came naturally to him. Black is a rarity today.
Did you have an inkling of DDLJ’s success?
The first time I really realised the film’s potential was when we took the print to Prasad Lab in Chennai to record the Dolby sound. The technicians there asked me to dub it in Telugu. I did so. It was a super hit in Telugu. Never in my life have I seen such reactions to any film. It became a landmark thanks to my son’s honest and sincere effort.
It’s also become a liability for Aditya.
Yes, it has become a benchmark for him. He can’t make DDLJ again, though I’m sure he’ll always make good films. But success cannot be guaranteed…Would you believe Shah Rukh was at first hesitant to do DDLJ?
Are you serious?
Yes, he didn’t want to do more mushy romance. Adi convinced him. He predicted that every viewer from the age of 6 to 80 would love him after DDLL. Sure enough, his fan following multiplied manifold. Every member of the cast was perfect. I remember the late lyricist Anand Bakshi saying, ‘Even if Adi puts half of his ideas on screen, he’ll make a historic hit.’
