Veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared a candid reflection on the changing portrayal of romance in cinema, using the iconic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) as a reference point. In a recent interview with India Today, Kher expressed nostalgia for the kind of emotionally resonant storytelling that once defined Bollywood’s golden romantic era.
“I’m longing to see a love story where there’s a certain amount of kashish. That’s why I felt Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was such a beautiful romantic film — Sanjay Leela Bhansali captured that essence so well. It had all of that,” Kher said, expressing his desire to see more heartfelt narratives on screen.
But his most striking insight was on DDLJ, a film he himself was part of, playing the lighthearted and supportive father of Shah Rukh Khan’s character. Directed by Aditya Chopra, DDLJ (1995) redefined modern romance in Indian cinema and remains one of the longest-running films in Indian theatrical history.
Reflecting on its enduring popularity, Kher commented, “No, I don’t think it would [work the same way today]. Today, it works because of its nostalgic value. But if it were made for the first time now, it wouldn’t have had the same impact. Just like Gone with the Wind — if it were made today, it wouldn’t resonate the same way.”
He explained that the societal context in which DDLJ was released played a key role in its success. “Back then, in the late ’90s and earlier, we had stories of couples eloping. But DDLJ was the first time when the hero said, ‘I will convince your father. Only then will we marry.’ That was new. The father tells his son, ‘You failed in London? Good. We’ve all failed in India too.’ These were fresh, grounded characters. Now, things are different.”
Kher went on to say, “Samaaj badal gaya hai (society has changed). Films reflect society. If you make an old-school love story now, maybe only a few people will go watch it. Love, at its core, may remain the same — but the way we express, portray, and understand it changes with every generation,” he concluded.
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