Veteran actor Anupam Kher, known for his rich legacy in Hindi cinema, recently opened up about the evolving nature of love stories in films and why he believes a classic like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) wouldn’t have the same impact if it were released in 2025. As Kher prepares for his upcoming release Metro... In Dino, he reflected on how storytelling and society have transformed over the decades.
Kher remarked that films are a mirror to the times we live in. “Whatever happens around us reflects in our movies whether in language, songs, or love. Earlier, there was a certain kashish, a longing in love. Today, it’s become instantaneous,” he said in an exclusive interview. He noted that earlier romances were built slowly often layered with hesitation and deep emotional buildup while modern relationships, both in real life and cinema, are more direct and fast-paced.
He elaborated by recalling how romantic expression in older films often involved delayed gratification — love came first, followed by trust, marriage, and intimacy. In contrast, contemporary cinema often skips the slow build, embracing instant attraction and physicality. “I’m not judging it,” Kher clarified, “But it’s a change worth acknowledging.”
When asked whether a film like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge would succeed if released for the first time in 2025, Kher answered candidly: “No, I don't think it would. It works today because of nostalgia. But back then, it was groundbreaking a hero willing to wait and convince the girl's father, rather than elope. That was new. That was refreshing.”
He compared it to Gone with the Wind, a classic that resonates because of its historical and emotional legacy, but might not connect the same way if made fresh today. Kher believes the values reflected in those stories were closely tied to their eras times when family, patience, and emotional sacrifice held the central space in romance.
He praised films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as some of the last to capture that timeless romance. “I long to see a love story that brings back that magic,” he added, wondering aloud when the last truly romantic film was released that left audiences emotionally stirred. Kher concluded by acknowledging that while the core of love remains unchanged, its portrayal is constantly evolving. Generations change, expressions evolve, but love, as an emotion, still endures just in a different language.
