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DDLJ statue featuring SRK Kajol unveiled in London’s Leicester Square
The sculpture is part of its film trail, marking the first tribute to Indian cinema and celebrating DDLJ’s three-decade global cultural legacy.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 04, Dec 2025
- 11:39 EST
- 19
Indian actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol at the unveiling of the ‘DDLJ’ statue in Leicester Square by Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) / Courtesy: Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA)
A bronze statue of Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol from their blockbuster Bollywood hit ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ was unveiled on Dec. 4 in Leicester Square in London.
The installation joins the award-winning Scenes in the Square trail as its eleventh statue, marking the first time London has honored Indian cinema with a permanent sculpture.
The unveiling by the actors kickstarts the 30th anniversary celebrations of 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,' the longest-running Hindi film in history.
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The statue recreates an early moment from the 1995 blockbuster, which featured the two characters unknowingly crossing paths in the Square. Positioned between the Odeon and Vue cinemas, the piece reinforces Leicester Square’s role as a recurring cinematic backdrop.
The film’s narrative of non-resident Indians, Raj and Simran, falling in love during a trip across Europe and India, beginning on a train from King’s Cross station.
The move targets high-footfall visibility and taps into long-standing demand from the UK’s British South Asian community, a key audience segment with strong cultural affinity for the film.
In the UK, the film’s legacy was celebrated earlier this year with a new stage adaptation, ‘Come Fall In Love—The DDLJ Musical,’ which ran in Manchester.
Speaking at the launch, actor Shah Rukh Khan said, "It is so exciting to see our statue unveiled today in London, a special place where our DDLJ story began all those 30 years ago. Seeing how the film has been embraced around the world fills me with immense pride, and attending the ceremony today, as well as feeling all the love and appreciation from the crowd, has given me a moment I will never forget!"
Actress Kajol added, "I never thought Simran and Raj would one day be sharing space with Harry Potter and Mary Poppins, but here we are in Leicester Square! It’s such a lovely tribute to a film that has been part of my life for three decades, and I’m truly touched by the love it continues to receive."
Ros Morgan, chief executive at Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA), said, "We’re proud to welcome global megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to our Scenes in the Square trail. ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ is a cinematic phenomenon that has shaped generations, and London’s first tribute to Indian cinema honors a story whose magic continues to captivate audiences worldwide.”
“The electric atmosphere in Leicester Square today speaks to DDLJ’s remarkable global power, and this statue will draw fans back to the home of film and entertainment for years to come,” Morgan said.
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, added, "When DDLJ was released 30 years ago, it redefined Indian cinema, instantly making Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol icons and beloved by audiences all over the globe.”
“With the film having touched so many hearts worldwide, as well as here in the United Kingdom, it is fitting that it should be recognized alongside glittering Hollywood legends like Mary Poppins, Gene Kelly, and Harry Potter. Attending the unveiling today, it was heartwarming to see how many fans attended, and, on behalf of Yash Raj Films, it is an honor to be the first statue dedicated to Indian cinema in such an iconic location as Leicester Square,” he added.
Scenes in the Square, now in its fifth year, has scaled into a West End cultural asset since its launch in 2020 with the support of Westminster City Council. The trail has logged more than 100 million visitors and features characters ranging from ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Wonder Woman’ to ‘Mr. Bean’ and Daniel Kaluuya’s role in ‘Get Out.’
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