What Makes Rani Mukerji Believe Aditya Chopra’s ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ Still Feels Fresh After 30 Years?

Mumbai, June 8 (NationPress) Actress Rani Mukerji discussed the reasons why ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’, helmed by her husband Aditya Chopra, maintains its appeal to audiences even after 30 years.

Mukerji recently graced the premiere of ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ and expressed her insights on the timeless nature of its narrative. She told IANS how love remains a universal constant despite evolving societal norms, a theme that the musical captures beautifully. The ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ actress emphasized that ‘Come Fall in Love’ feels fresh and relevant, even after three decades, despite its foundation in the iconic film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.” Rani revealed that the original romantic storyline featuring characters Roger and Simran was actually Aditya Chopra’s first concept before it morphed into the cherished Raj and Simran arc in DDLJ. Today, three decades later, he has revisited that original vision through this Broadway-inspired adaptation.

“While many things change, the essence of love remains unaltered, and I believe CIFL embodies that because when you view the scenes with a contemporary lens, it doesn’t feel outdated. The story of Roger and Simran was his initial creation, which later evolved into DDLJ with Raj and Simran, and after all these years, he has brought back his original tale of Roger and Simran,” shared Rani Mukerji.

In a significant milestone for Indian cinema and cross-cultural collaboration, Aditya Chopra’s ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ had its grand opening at the Manchester Opera House. Drawing inspiration from “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (DDLJ), the longest-running film in Indian cinematic history, this English-language stage adaptation serves as an important cultural bridge between India and the UK.

The original DDLJ has been an essential part of Indian cinematic culture since 1995, continuously screening in Mumbai. Now re-envisioned for a global audience, the musical boasts 18 original English compositions and features a diverse cast of emerging British talents with ties to Manchester and the Northwest, alongside internationally acclaimed South Asian artists.

The cast includes Jena Pandya (Bhangra Nation, Mamma Mia) as Simran and Ashley Day (An American in Paris, Dynasty) as Rog. Other notable roles are filled by Irvine Iqbal (The Father and the Assassin) as Baldev, Kara Lane (The Addams Family) as Minky, Harveen Mann-Neary (Bend It Like Beckham) as Lajjo, and Millie O’Connell (SIX) as Cookie. The ensemble also welcomes Amonik Melaco (Austenland), Ankur Sabharwal (Snakes and Ladders), Kinshuk Sen, and Russell Wilcox (Exit The King).