I Did It For A Paid Holiday To Europe: Anaita Shroff Adajania On Working In Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Bollywood costume designer and stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania shared a note on Instagram as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge completed 25 years of its release on Tuesday.

The film featured Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead roles of Simran and Raj respectively. Adjania had played the role of Simran's friend Sheena in the film, who accompanies Simran on a trip to Europe.

Adjania took to Instagram to share her experience of working in DDLJ, “I was in college when Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Karan (Karan Johar) asked me to help them cast my college friends to play Raj and Simran’s friends in the film. This was my introduction to the film industry- a world I knew nothing about at the time. In the process they convinced me into playing Sheena. I did it for a laugh and a paid holiday to Europe with my bestie, which was a really big deal for a broke student.”

View this post on Instagram

I was in college when Adi and Karan asked me to help them cast my college friends to play Raj and Simrin’s friends in the film. This was my introduction to the film industry- a world I knew nothing about at the time. In the process they convinced me into playing Sheena. I did it for a laugh and a paid holiday to Europe with my bestie, which was a really big deal for a broke student. I remember reaching Saanen, a small town in Switzerland , fresh off the bus ( ok plane) and seeing Shahrukh in his black suit on a little bridge ...and for me I felt that he was there only for me! I’m sure whoever saw him on that bridge felt the same way - that’s why he’s Shahrukh. Kajol was just Kajol - real, instinctive, full of love (and still gives the tightest hugs ever). You have to remember that these were times when they were no entourages, no managers and mobiles, no social media...film making was much simpler, but extremely passionate. Once we were there, we were cut off from the rest of the world for over a month. We would all live together, eat together, sing together, dance together... we become a real family, under the warm gaze of a legend like Yash uncle (Yash Chopra). Adi knew DDLJ from his core, and strove for nothing less than perfection. We all hung out and helped each other in ways only close knit friends and families do. Never having any acting ambitions( thankfully), I’m so glad that I was part of this brilliant film and that I can still call everyone that I worked with a friend. I’m so happy to have been a tiny part of this massive legacy. #DDLJ25 #25yearsofDDLJ @yrf #adityachopra

A post shared by Anaita Adajania (@anaitashroffadajania) on Oct 19, 2020 at 10:00pm PDT

Anaita Shroff Adjania on Shah Rukh Khan

 In this film, Adjania's character Sheena is seen flirting with Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) at a club. Sharing a memory of shooting with Khan, Adjania wrote,  “I remember reaching Saanen, a small town in Switzerland, fresh off the bus ( ok plane) and seeing Shahrukh in his black suit on a little bridge ...and for me I felt that he was there only for me! I’m sure whoever saw him on that bridge felt the same way - that’s why he’s Shahrukh.”

Also Read: Rewatching These Five Bollywood Blockbusters Made Me Cringe As A Feminist

Anaita also opened up about filmmaking practices of that era. She added, “You have to remember that these were times when they were no entourages, no managers and mobiles, no social media...film making was much simpler, but extremely passionate. Once we were there, we were cut off from the rest of the world for over a month. We would all live together, eat together, sing together, dance together... we become a real family, under the warm gaze of a legend like Yash uncle (Yash Chopra). Adi knew DDLJ from his core, and strove for nothing less than perfection. We all hung out and helped each other in ways only close knit friends and families do.”

Also Read: 20 Years Later, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Seems So Dated

She also revealed in her Instagram post that she never had any acting ambitions. She wrote, “Never having any acting ambitions ( thankfully), I’m so glad that I was part of this brilliant film and that I can still call everyone that I worked with a friend. I’m so happy to have been a tiny part of this massive legacy.”

Image Credit: Wiki Commons/ Anaita Shroff Adajania

Sagrika Giri is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.