Issue 28 / SRK & Kajol: Celebrating 20 Years Of Long Lasting On-Screen Love & Friendship

by Daniel Pillai

SRK & Kajol: Celebrating 20 Years Of Long Lasting On-Screen Love & Friendship

Dec 13, 2015

Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol celebrate 20 years of love and romance and their iconic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. How are they celebrating? With their upcoming film Dilwale.

It seems that relationships don't last very long these days, but perhaps there's one that has lasted the test of time. This relationship has lasted varied change, the threatening emergence of younger stars and youthful beauty, racy storylines that bring in big bucks at the box office and have you at the edge of your seat, and the new world of botox and fillers too. We're talking about the on-screen pairing and romance of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Need we say more?

With individual careers spanning over 20 years both Khan and Kajol are seasoned at their craft and iconic in Indian cinema, but that's not the reason for their success. Their careers, respectively, in large part can arguably be credited to the string of films they have completed with one another: Karan Arjun, Baazigar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and My Name Is Khan, all which have hit iconic pop-culture status and have scored big at the box office.

Their fame, admiration and credibility doesn't just come from talented directors, good films and great scripts, but because of the immensely approachable, relatable and magical on-screen chemistry Khan and Kajol share on camera. Whether you're a fan or not, a scene with the two of them is certainly present in your Bollywood a-game.

^{Collage of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol on screen through the years.

Photo Credit: www.india.com}

It's without question that despite a string of hit films over the past 20 years, it was 1995's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, directed by Aditya Chopra and produced by the late and great Yash Chopra, which solified the superstar status of both these actors, individually and together. The movie is now the longest running film in Indian cinema history playing at India's Maratha Mandir Theatre for 1,000 weeks as of December 2014.

DDLJ, as the film is lovingly referred to, perfectly and timelessly encapsulated the pair's power as an on-screen couple. Every single film they did after that, was an honest attempt and exercise at capturing their magical chemistry.

^{Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in 1995's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Photo Credit: Yash Raj Films}

But what is it about this on-screen pairing that has been so unique and which has to this day not been emulated by any on-screen pairings since? Many think it's their string of hit films, one after the other, that have helped cement them in the hearts and minds of Bollywood movie-goers. Some say, it's just their undeniable chemistry and looks on-screen. But when you ask both actors, their success together, in their eyes, goes beyond what we see, hear and experience on celluloid. It goes right down to an organic, human and emotional interaction with one another.

"I think for me, Kajol and I have known each for so long and we have worked together for so long. The scripts we shared, the acting we shared, and we are friends. We love each other as colleagues; we love each other as family. So when we work together that turns into love on screen. So when people see it they call it 'chemistry' or when 'sparks fly,'" Khan said to ANOKHI.

"But Kajol and I are absolutely not conscious of the fact that we are film stars. We work together. We are both middle class people who have found success of a very high order. We help each other and it translates on screen. It's love, admiration and appreciation, which turns into a nice pairing. I get very excited to work with Kajol whenever she agrees to do a film," he continued.

^{Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan celebrate the 1000th screening of DDLJ at India's Maratha Mandir Theatre.

Photo Credit: Box Office Capsule}

Just like Khan, for Kajol their long-lasting and timeless success is also based on a genuine friendship shared off-screen, but for Kajol, luck and hard work also play a crucial role.

"We’re willing to put our best foot forward each and every time. Plus, I think it also has to do with the fact that we’re truly honest with each other. I mean, if it’s not working, we all agree and admit it. And we each care about one another. I’m not only worried about myself . . . Shah Rukh wants me to give a good performance, and I want him to give a good performance. And you know, we’re all worried about each other, and we’re all there to back each other up and to take care of each other. So I think that’s where the magic is. When you have that much trust and faith in the people around you, somewhere down the line, it always works," Kajol said to ANOKHI.

^{"Janam Janam" song promo from Dilwale.

Video Credit: Sony Music India}

So it's no surprise that Rohit Shetty's upcoming film Dilwale, releasing worldwide on December 18, is eagerly awaited by Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol admirers. The film reunites their pairing after a long five years (their last film together was Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan which released in 2010) and rekindles their on-screen power for a new generation of Bollywood lovers.

Dilwale, the title to Shetty's upcoming film, was chosen to commemorate the lead pair's iconic status in Indian pop-culture and cinema and to pay homage to their effect on the world of love stories in Bollywood. Shetty and his production company even took it a step further and released a special promotional video to salute DDLJ's 20th anniversary which also served as a marketing ploy to promote Diwale itself.

^{Team Dilwale celebrate #20YearsOfDDLJ.

Video Credit: Yash Raj Films}

The promotional video, while endearing has also sparked the question: Will we see a similar love story or interaction between Khan and Kajol on screen in Diwale? While critics are skeptical, given the outright celebration of the pair's iconic romantic film, and direct associations, many movie lovers and fans are just happy that the pair are reuniting. Despite the lukewarm reaction to the film's promos, it's quite apparent that the love for these two stars and the magic they create together is still much-awaited and anticipated.

Less than a month after its release, the film's trailer hit over 18 million views on YouTube and the romantic track "Gerua" featuring Khan and Kajol has hit over 21 million views. A testament to their hit pairing? We think so!

^{Main Image Photo Credit: Rohit Shetty Films (Still From Dilwale.)}

Read ANOKHI's List of Top 10 Moments From DDLJ celebrating the film's 20th anniversary here.

To experience the love of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, watch the song promo of "Gerua" from Dilwale below:

I think for me, Kajol and I have known each for so long and we have worked together for so long. The scripts we shared, the acting we shared, and we are friends. We love each other as colleagues; we love each other as family. We are successful when we work together. So when we work together that turns into love on screen. So when people see it they call it "chemistry" or when "sparks fly". But Kajol and I are absolutely not conscious of the fact that we are film stars. We work together. We are both middle class people who have found success of a very high order. We help each other and it translates on screen. It's love, admiration and appreciation, which turns into a nice pairing. I get very excited to work with Kajol whenever she agrees to do a film.
– See more at: http://anokhimagazine.com/story/2010/01/15/shah-rukh-khan#sthash.EkFwFEAI.dpuf

Daniel Pillai

Author

Daniel is the Digital Media Manager for ANOKHI MEDIA and the host for ANOKHI's entertainment channel, PULSE TV. As part of the dream team, Daniel manages all multiple channels under ANOKHI’s portfolio, while also training new on-air talent, and showing budding p...