Hyderabad, Jan. 3 -- When Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) was released in 1995, it became a landmark film in Indian cinema, solidifying Shah Rukh Khan as the "King of Romance" and establishing Kajol as one of Bollywood's finest actresses. The film's charm lies not only in the chemistry between its leads but also in its timeless love story. Yet, this iconic film almost took a very different turn.

DDLJ's Original Choice

Director Aditya Chopra initially envisioned the film as a cross-cultural romance. His original idea was to cast Hollywood star Tom Cruise as Raj, the male lead. The concept was to create a love story between an American man and an Indian woman, set in Europe. However, his father, legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, advised...