Statue of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol from ‘DDLJ’ will be erected in Leicester Square

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajolrsquos 1995 blockbuster ldquoDilwale Dulhania Le Jayengerdquo DDLJ by Yash Raj Films is set to become the first ever statue honouring Indian cinema to be erected in Londons Leicester SquareThe bronze statue will showcase SRK and Kajol in an iconic DDLJ pose Set to be unveiled in Spring this year the announcement spotlights how the film is loved by the over five million strong British South Asian communityOn Wednesday the Heart of London Business Alliance announced that Yash Raj Filmsrsquo DDLJ statue will be joining the lsquoScenes in the Squarersquo movie trail in Leicester Square This will mark the start of 30year celebrations of the romantic film which marked the directorial debut of Aditya ChopraDilwale Dulhania Le Jayengerdquo follows two nonresident Indians Raj and Simran and their starcrossed love story across Europe and India beginning on a train from Kingrsquos Cross StationThe location couldnrsquot be more fitting with Leicester Square featuring in DDLJ in a scene when Raj and Simran first cross paths albeit unbeknown to one another before setting off on their European adventure The scene features two of the squarersquos cinemas prominently with Raj seen in front of the Vue cinema and Simran walking past the Odeon Leicester SquareThe new statue will be positioned along the eastern terrace outside the Odeon cinema honouring this scene Other London locations featured in the film include Horseguards Avenue Hyde Park Tower Bridge and Kingrsquos Cross StationIn the UK the filmrsquos cultural significance remains with a new musical based on DDLJ Come Fall In Love ndash The DDLJ Musical set to start at the Manchester Opera House on May 29 2025DDLJ will be next to iconic film characters like Harry Potter Laurel ampamp Hardy Bugs Bunny Gene Kelly in Singinrsquo in the Rain Mary Poppins Mr Bean Paddington and DC SuperHeroes Batman and Wonder WomanMark Williams Deputy Chief Executive at Heart of London Business Alliance says ldquoItrsquos fantastic to have the opportunity to add to our trail Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who are such titans of international cinemardquoldquoDilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of the most successful and important Bollywood films of all time and wersquore excited by the prospect of bringing to the trail the first film that actually features Leicester Square as a location The statue is a fitting tribute to the global popularity of Bollywood and a celebration of Londonrsquos rich diversity Wersquore in no doubt it will attract fans from all around the world to Leicester Square the home of film and entertainmentrdquoAkshaye Widhani CEO of Yash Raj Films added ldquoWhen Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge DDLJ was released 30 years ago the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe Wersquore thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in lsquoScenes in the SquarersquordquoldquoIt also marks 30 years of DDLJ a film that has spread love and joy globally and shows the cultural impact it has had in the UKrdquoldquoWe are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognized on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite from Gene Kelly to Laurel ampamp Hardy to Harry PotterrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoeveratOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params