25 years of DDLJ: Did you know Shah Rukh Khan initially said NO to playing Raj in iconic film?

A movie which has defined romance for generations at large - DDLJ - turns 25 today. After Yash Chopra's 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' released, no person could complain about the casting, especially for Shah Rukh Khan as Raj and Kajol as Simran.

However, very few people are aware that Shah Rukh Khan did not even want to be part of the project. The main reason for it was that he just couldn't connect to the character of Raj Malhotra. “It’s a role of a wimp. I feel like a wimp. I feel like a pansy,” were his first thoughts upon being offered the role.

What made him take up the offer? Yash Chopra, of course! And YRF's current head honcho Aditya Chopra too. For the uninformed, DDLJ was Aditya's directorial debut. While Shah Rukh Khan liked the script, he thought he was 'too old' and 'not good-looking' to pull off the role.

Stating he had faith in the Chopras, Shah Rukh eventually accepted the role. Fun fact: yash Chopra told him he would never be a 'big star' without a romantic film in his kitty.

It so happens that as soon as Shah Rukh Khan started shooting for the film, he found himself to be 90% of Raj. “I think 90% of the character of Raj is like me. So yeah, if girls think they can’t find Raj, they can always call me,” the actor had said in an interview.

In fact, he got so involved with the film that Shah Rukh Khan insisted on adding a little violence in the movie. He thinks it gave the movie an edge and is one of the reasons for its success, no matter how little.

DDLJ has been running in Marathi Mandir, Mumbai, and it is full house even today.