Even though Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale (2015) couldn’t leave much of an impact at the box office its romantic anthem Gerua continues to live in the hearts of fans. The melody sung by Arijit Singh and Antara Mitra paired with the breathtaking chemistry of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol became iconic. But what made it truly stand out was its setting the surreal landscapes of Iceland. Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan who directed the song recently shared never-before-heard details of what went behind creating this visually striking number. How did Iceland enter the conversation? In her latest vlog Farah Khan was seen on a casual outing in Delhi with her cook-turned-vlogging companion Dilip. The duo stopped by the home of entrepreneur Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri. While chatting over snacks the Grovers recalled their recent Iceland vacation calling the country both “breathtaking” and “shockingly expensive.” That’s when Farah brought up Gerua. Madhuri had been searching for a Hindi song to go with their Iceland holiday pictures and Farah reminded her that Gerua remains the only major Bollywood song filmed in that country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIVhBS6baE&list=PLKilNk2_EnyQH6SuB2mS6ftgO43vC0gWT&index=1 What challenges did SRK and Kajol face? Farah fondly recalled the struggles Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol endured during the shoot. Both stars had to wear light breezy costumes in freezing temperatures. The biting winds and icy climate made even simple dance movements a test of endurance. Despite the discomfort the two powered through with their trademark chemistry and the result was a song that redefined the scale of Bollywood romance. How much did the song cost? The biggest revelation came when Farah disclosed the budget. “Iceland is the most expensive place” she said adding that filming Gerua had cost Rs 7 crore an amount allocated for just one song. With only the lead pair and crew involved the expenditure went into covering Iceland’s exorbitant logistics permissions and location costs. Farah jokingly remarked “Kitna mehnga hai Iceland!”  a sentiment both Ashneer and Madhuri immediately related to. Did the investment pay off? While Dilwale underperformed as a film Gerua became its lasting legacy. Fans hailed it as one of Bollywood’s most beautiful romantic songs with visuals that matched the grandeur of any international production. The chemistry of SRK and Kajol combined with Arijit Singh’s soulful voice ensured that the Rs 7 crore spent was not forgotten. In hindsight Farah’s gamble on Iceland gave Bollywood one of its most iconic romantic ballads proof that sometimes even if a film fades a song can carve a permanent place in cinematic history. Highlights Farah Khan revealed Gerua cost Rs 7 crore to shoot in Iceland. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol battled icy winds in light costumes for the song. Despite Dilwale’s flop Gerua remains an iconic Bollywood romantic anthem.