Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the original “Raj” of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), made a surprise visit to the rehearsals of Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical in London, leaving the cast and crew awe-struck.
Khan, who played the iconic role of Raj in Aditya Chopra’s 1995 blockbuster, met with the stage musical’s leads—Rog (Ashley Day) and Simran (Jena Pandya). Posing for photographs with the duo and the rest of the cast, the actor lit up the rehearsal room with his trademark charm. The team shared a heartfelt note with the pictures:
“When Raj of DDLJ met Rog & Simran of #ComeFallInLove! The king of the Indian film industry, Shah Rukh Khan, popped into our London rehearsal room and inspired us all and yes, hearts definitely skipped a beat!”
The musical, directed by Aditya Chopra himself, is set to run at the Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester from May 29 to June 21. It marks a significant milestone—celebrating 30 years of DDLJ and 200 years of Britain’s railway system. Notably, DDLJ featured memorable scenes shot at London’s King’s Cross Station, making the UK a fitting home for the musical tribute.
Ashley Day, who plays Rog, described meeting Shah Rukh Khan as “special in a way that didn’t need words.”
“The words we shared privately are for one Raj to another Rog – but I will say, he was very happy,” he told Variety.
Jena Pandya, the musical’s Simran, shared her excitement too. “He (Shah Rukh Khan) was so generous with his time and support for the show. Being able to show him some of the iconic scenes that himself and Kajol originally established was an incredible feeling,” she said.
The musical adaptation features 18 brand-new English songs by composer duo Vishal and Sheykhar, with choreography by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford and Indian dance sequences by Shruti Merchant. The book and lyrics are penned by Nell Benjamin, while Derek McLane handles scene design.
Immersive experiences related to the musical are also being planned at railway stations in London and Manchester to further engage fans.
First premiered in 2022, Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical is a heartfelt global reimagining of a timeless Indian love story, and with Shah Rukh Khan’s surprise visit, it just received the blessing of the original Raj himself.
Sources By Agencies
