Veteran actor Anupam Kher traveled down memory lane this Monday with a visit to the Apta Railway Station, the filming site of the legendary train sequence from the 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). During his visit, Kher urged the government to officially recognize the location as a tourist destination.
The film, directed by Aditya Chopra, features the unforgettable climax where Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) extends his hand from a moving train to Simran (Kajol) as she runs to join him. Kher, who played the role of Raj’s supportive father, Dharamvir Malhotra, shared his reflections in an Instagram video from the station.
A Landmark in Cinema History
Kher described the station as a piece of Indian cinematic history, comparing its significance to global film landmarks.
“I have come to a railway station where an iconic scene of an iconic film was shot,” Kher said in his video. “It’s like going to Sicily for a sequence of The Godfather. These are iconic places… At the time of shooting, we had no clue we were creating such a landmark.”
Proposal for a Tourist Hub
The actor expressed his gratitude to the late Yash Chopra and director Aditya Chopra for involving him in the project. Highlighting the scene’s global recognition, he formally requested the government to develop the station into a tourist spot for fans of Hindi cinema.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge remains one of the longest-running and most beloved films in Indian history, celebrated for its music, performances, and the “Palat” and “Simran, ja jee le apni zindagi” moments that continue to resonate with audiences 31 years later.
