The Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol-starrer Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, a romantic drama cherished by moviegoers across the globe, turns 30 this year.
To commemorate the event, Yash Raj Films (YRF), the makers of the Bollywood film, has teamed up with British Rail to make it a grand affair, reported The Times of India.
This year also marks British Rail’s 200th anniversary.
The collaboration, announced as part of Valentine’s Day festivities recognising the romance of rail travel, centres on Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, YRF’s stage adaptation of DDLJ which will premiere at the Manchester Opera House on May 29 and run until June 21.
The production reimagines the 1995 blockbuster, which famously captured romantic scenes at London’s King’s Cross Railway Station between the characters played by Khan and Kajol.
Original DDLJ director Aditya Chopra helms this English-language musical about Simran, a British-Indian woman whose arranged-marriage plans in India become complicated when she falls for a British man named Roger.
The show brings together an international creative team and features 18 original English songs by Indian composers Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani. American writer and lyricist Nell Benjamin, known for her stage adaptation of the Hollywood teen hit Mean Girls, has penned the lyrics for many of the new songs.
The creative team also includes choreographer Rob Ashford (Disney’s Frozen), co-choreographer for Indian dances Shruti Merchant (Taj Express) and scenic designer Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge! The Musical).
DDLJ is the longest-running film in India, with the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai screening the movie continously for the past 28 years.
Suzanne Donnelly, the executive director of the Railway 200 event, said: “We’re very pleased to partner with Yash Raj Films and celebrate the enduring romance of rail and power of connection across the world. The railway has long inspired filmmakers and helped to shape our cultural landscape.
“Its bicentenary this year provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this hugely successful, rail-related Bollywood blockbuster, and its new musical opening in the UK this summer.”
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with British Rail, as part of the railway’s 200th anniversary. YRF has always stood for bringing stories that are rooted in India, yet have a global footprint and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a testament to that.
“One of the most iconic scenes of DDLJ was filmed at King’s Cross Railway Station, which we are showcasing in Come Fall In Love! So, this is the perfect moment for us to partner with Railway 200. Together, we want to spread the message of how unifying love can be and how celebrating diversity and inclusivity is the need of the hour.”
