One of the most celebrated films in Bollywood history, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, commonly abbreviated to DDLJ, will be making a comeback – as a Broadway musical.
Directed by Aditya Chopra in 1995, DDLJ has since become a classic. After 26 years, the filmmaker is all set to direct DDLJ once again, but now on the Broadway stage. The musical will mark his debut as a director on Broadway. DDLJ, which became one of the highest-grossing and longest-running Bollywood movies in Mumbai theatres, is an important part of India’s film industry. So this is a very big deal indeed.
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is being produced by Yash Raj Films. Based on an original story by Chopra, the musical will feature a collaboration between the Indian and US-based creative team which will include Indian songwriters Vishal Dadlani & Shekhar Ravjiani, who will compose the music; Neil Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls) writing book and lyrics; and Rob Ashford (Frozen) choreographing with associate choreographer Shruti Merchant. Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge!) will design the sets. Adam Zotovich is Executive Producer.
If you’re not familiar with this evergreen Bollywood movie, DDLJ stars one of India’s biggest actors, Shah Rukh Khan, as Raj. Simran, Raj’s on-screen love interest, played by Kajol, is an India-based Londoner who is left with no choice but to marry a family friend arranged by her father. After much convincing, she gets permission to fulfill her life-long dream of travelling across Europe with her friends, before tying the knot. It is in Europe where the love between Simran and Raj, also an India-based Londoner, is sparked and develops.
“DDLJ was my introduction to Indian filmmaking before I even knew who the amazing Aditya Chopra was,” said book and lyric writer Benjamin, “…and the movie had such joy and heart that I fell in love with it. I was so happy to be approached to do the musical and I hope my work helps everyone fall in love with Simran and Raj and their journey across multiple cultures to love. The world can always use a little more cultural understanding, and I can’t wait to sit in a theater with an audience sharing the joy and surprise of Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical.”
Barry Edelstein, the Old Globe Artistic Director, said, “The Old Globe is beyond delighted to bring Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical to our stage. To collaborate with the brilliant director Aditya Chopra as he makes his stage debut is a real honor for all of us at the Globe. And it’s a special privilege to bring India’s most popular movie to vivid theatrical life in San Diego, as we build on the Globe’s storied legacy of premiering exciting and important new musical theatre.”
The highly-anticipated musical is set to be on stage with a World Premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in September 2022.
