#CatchFlashBack: When Tom Cruise and not Shah Rukh Khan was 'Raj' in DDLJ

It is impossible to imagine anyone except Shah Rukh Khan as Raj in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The film, directed by Aditya Chopra, is remembered for multiple reasons, including its 1000-week run at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai.

However, very few know that the film, which established Shah Rukh Khan as the lover boy of Bollywood was written by Aditya Chopra keeping Tom Cruise in mind! Yes, you read that right, Chopra's initial idea was to make a film about the relationship between an Indian and an American.

However, Aditya's father and legendary film maker, Yash Chopra, asked Aditya to drop the idea and make a film about the relationship between two NRI's (Non Resident Indian) instead.

Aditya later reworked the characters and approached Shah Rukh Khan to portray the iconic Raj, but Khan was skeptical to accept the offer as before DDLJ, he had found major success playing intense and negative characters.

Also Read: #CatchFlashBack: When Yash Chopra sidelined Sunny Deol for Shah Rukh Khan

After Shah Rukh Khan accepted the offer, everyone in the trade was of the opinion that DDLJ will be a big disaster as the audience will not accept the actor in a lover boy image. However, when Shah Rukh Khan hosted a special screening of the film for his friend, Salman Khan, the latter was of the opinion that DDLJ will be Shah Rukh Khan's biggest hit till date.

Also Read: #CatchFlashBack: Ajay Devgn and not Salman Khan was cast for Karan Arjun with Shah Rukh Khan

While even SRK initially thought Salman was being generous, he was surprised to see DDLJ become one of his most memorable films till date.