MUMBAI: Britain’s railway system and Yash Raj Films (YRF) have announced a cultural partnership celebrating the railway’s bicentenary and the 30th anniversary of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) in 2025.
The collaboration centres on Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, premiering at Manchester Opera House on 29 May. The English-language production reimagines the 1995 Bollywood blockbuster, which featured iconic scenes at London’s King’s Cross Railway Station with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Director Aditya Chopra, who helmed the original film, leads the musical adaptation about a British Indian woman whose arranged marriage plans are complicated by her romance with a British man. The production features 18 original English songs by Indian composers Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani, with book and lyrics by Mean Girls veteran Nell Benjamin.
The creative team includes Broadway stalwarts Rob Ashford as choreographer, Derek McLane as scenic designer, and Indian dance specialist Shruti Merchant, with David Grindrod handling casting.
Railway 200 executive director Suzanne Donnelly highlighted the railway’s role in shaping cultural narratives, while YRF chief executive officer Akshaye Widhani emphasised the production’s message of unity and diversity.
The musical runs through 21 June, with special events planned at Manchester and London railway stations. The original DDLJ continues its record-breaking run in Mumbai, where it has played continuously since 1995.
