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DDLJ is NYC Bound: Aditya Chopra’s Iconic “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” to be Adapted as Broadway Musical

DDLJ is NYC Bound: Aditya Chopra’s Iconic “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” to be Adapted as Broadway Musical

  • The film that launched the careers of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol into the stratosphere has been playing at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir cinema since its release 26 years ago.

Raj and Simran, the iconic protagonists of Aditya Chopra’s “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” are Broadway-bound. The 1995 classic is being adapted as a Broadway musical titled “Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical.”

Chopra will direct the Broadway adaptation, scheduled to debut in the 2022-2023 season, with a world premiere at the Old Globe theater in San Diego in September 2022. A global casting search is about to begin soon and is headed by Duncan Stewart of Stewart/Whitley casting and Shane Sharma, casting head of Yash Raj Films. 

DDLJ stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as Raj and Simran and is set between the U.K. and India. It tells the story of lovers who must overcome parental opposition to be together. It has been playing at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir cinema since its release 26 years ago. 

The Broadway production will include a book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and choreography by Tony and Emmy winner Rob Ashford and associate choreographer Shruti Merchant. The set design will be by Emmy and Tony Award winner Derek McLane of “Moulin Rouge!” Fame. Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani will serve as composers, while the music supervision is from Bill Sherman (“In The Heights,” “Hamilton”). Adam Zotovich serves as executive producer.

“DDLJ was my introduction to Indian filmmaking before I even knew who the amazing Aditya Chopra was, and the movie had such joy and heart that I fell in love with it,” says Benjamin. “I was so happy to be approached to do the musical and I hope my work helps everyone fall in love with Simran and Rog and their journey across multiple cultures to love.”

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In a note shared on his social media handles, Chopra shared the process that led to the musical. He wrote how in the summer of 1985, as a 14-year-old on a holiday in London, his first musical theater experience blew his mind. “But that day what I saw, I couldn’t believe that this kind of spectacle could be created live on stage,” he wrote. “But the most significant aspect that resonated with me was how similar musical theatre was to our Indian films,” he added. “I realized then, that worlds apart, languages apart, western musical theatre and Indian films are two long lost lovers separated in time.” 

He continues: “26 years later I’m going back to my original vision of the story of DDLJ, a love story of an American boy and an Indian girl, a love story of two cultures… two worlds.” Admitting that he’s “terribly nervous and incredibly excited,” as he’s “a hardcore cinema guy,” who’s never done theater before. “But what is giving me confidence is the fantastic team that I have. Each one of them are masters of their field and their brilliance and expertise is going to make this a fantastic show.”

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