Yash Raj Films is gearing up for the greatest achievement in cinema history for any movie and its producer. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is only two-weeks away from completing its 1000-week run at the cinemas. To make the thousandth week special for cinegoers, who will throng in big numbers between December 12 and 18 to catch the movie in its landmark week, the producers ordered a special digitised print of the film from London. The film was shot in 1995 and the quality of print had to be upgraded for the big week.
A source from Maratha Mandir, the cinema hall that has been running the film seamlessly for the last 19 years and two months, says, “Aditya Chopra has ordered this print from London and spent lavishly on getting it because it’s an expensive process. The colours of the newly imported print are far better than the original print that was released on October 20, 1995. And this new print will be run in the 1000th week.”
When contacted, Manoj Desai, the director of Maratha Mandir cinema says, Yes, big celebrations have been planned. I dont see this film running beyond its 1000 weeks. People, who had to see it, have seen it. Some regular visitors have seen it more than 200-300 times. So, the thousandth week will be made special for everyone who comes to watch the film, but I cant divulge how. Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan were in their twenties when this film released, and now, their kids are in their teens. My only wish is that they must come to watch the film once before it goes off. You never know, the 1000th week may be the last time that the film runs in a cinema hall.
In August, 2001 DDLJ, as its popularly called, broke Sholays 286-week record stint at another Mumbai theatre, Minerva, with an uninterrupted 300-week run. K. Asifs epic extravaganzaMughal-e-Azam (1960) enjoyed a 150-week run. Raj Kapoors Barsaat (1949) ran in Calcutta for 100 weeks. The Marathi film Sangte Aika (1959) celebrated a century-run in Pune, and V.Shantarams Shakuntala (1943) reigned for 104 weeks in Mumbai. Sooraj Barjatyas directorial debut Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) celebrated a golden jubilee, as did his second film, Hum Aapke Hain Koun! (1994), both starring Salman Khan. Hrithik Roshans first film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) ran for a year, as did Aditya Chopras Mohabbatein (2000). Dharmesh Darshans Aamir-Karisma starrer Raja Hindustani (1996) ran for 50 weeks.