The iconic mustard field scene in "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (DDLJ), featuring Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and Kajol, almost didn't happen, but SRK's wit and charm saved the day. The scene, a defining image of the film, captures Simran running through the mustard fields to Raj and is etched in Indian cinema's memory as a symbol of love and courage.
In the early 1990s, Gurugram was mostly farmlands, especially mustard fields. The DDLJ crew arrived to shoot the romantic song "Tujhe Dekha To" but faced a problem. They had permission from the local panchayat to film, but they were in the wrong field. The landowner was angry because the crew was trampling his crops without his permission.
Aditya Chopra, the director, recalled the incident, "We had the panchayat's permission, but the landowner came charging at us, saying, 'I don't care about your panchayat!'—and in much stronger words".
SRK, being familiar with the Haryanvi dialect and mannerisms as a Delhi boy, stepped in to ease the tension. He spoke to the upset farmers in fluent Haryanvi, saying, "Thoda ne karne do bhai, kar ke nikal lenge [Let us shoot for a bit, we'll be done soon]". He also cracked jokes to lighten the mood. In one instance, he quipped, "Main bhi kisan hoon. Main kya hero lag raha hoon tujhe? [I'm a farmer too. Do I look like a hero to you?]". His humble attitude and humor won over the locals, and the crew could continue shooting.
Within hours, the team captured the scene of Raj and Simran reuniting in the golden fields. The song "Tujhe Dekha To" captured the essence of 1990s romance and immortalized SRK and Kajol as a beloved on-screen pair. The film, produced by Yash Raj Films, became a blockbuster, redefined romance in Hindi cinema, and marked the beginning of a new kind of Bollywood hero, one who was charming, respectful, and deeply rooted in Indian values.
The mustard field sequence was shot in Gurgaon, near Delhi. Despite the challenges during filming, the scene has become iconic, with many recreating it over the years.
