Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is undeniably one of the most iconic films in our cinema a timeless classic that continues to live in our minds rent-free. From its unforgettable background score to its brilliant storyline everything about the film is perfectly crafted. And when it comes to the cast it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol bringing the characters of Raj and Simran to life. Their chemistry is so legendary that it’s impossible to envision anyone else in those roles. However here’s a shocking revelation: Shah Rukh Khan wasn’t even the first choice for the film. Thats right! DDLJ was supposed to be an Indo-American collaboration Interestingly Aditya Chopra had envisioned either Saif Ali Khan for the lead role Raj Malhotra. Unfortunately things didn’t work out. Reportedly the director also envisioned the movie as an Indo-American collaboration. He sought Tom Cruise for the role planning a storyline in which a foreigner would travel to Punjab in search of his love. However the high fee demanded by Tom Cruise led to a change of plans. How much fees did the Hollywood actor demand? Reportedly Tom Cruise asked for a fee of around $8 million which was nearly 2.5 times higher than Shah Rukh Khans asking fee. At the time the films total budget was approximately 28 crores and Tom Cruises fee accounted for nearly 90% of that amount. Upon hearing about the exorbitant fee Yash Chopra reportedly instructed Aditya Chopra to revise the story leading to Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol being finalized for the film. About Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge directed by Aditya Chopra was released in 1995. Starring Shah Rukh Khan as Raj and Kajol as Simran the movie follows the story of two young people who fall in love while travelling through Europe only to face the challenges of traditional family values and expectations. Set against stunning locations like the Swiss Alps London and Punjab the movies picturesque cinematography added to its charm. The film’s seamless blend of romance drama and comedy along with its memorable soundtrack made it an instant hit. DDLJ became one of the highest-grossing films of its time earning over Rs 102.5 crore at the box office.