With the Shah Rukh Khan starrer in its 23rd year of release, we give you some interesting trivia on its making...

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23 Years of Dil To Pagal Hai: 33 lesser-known facts about the iconic romantic musical

Team CE

Published:30th Jun, 2020 at 2:59 PM

DTPH was initially called ‘Thevar’ with Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Manisha Koirala in the lead.

However, Manisha had second thoughts about her role in the movie and dropped out.

Nisha’s role was first offered to Juhi Chawla. She didn’t take up the film as she didn’t want to play second lead to Madhuri Dixit

Yash Chopra then approached Kajol, to play Nisha. She too turned it down.

The role then went to Urmila Matondkar and Shilpa Shetty who both declined the offers. Finally, Karishma Kapoor bagged the role. She was the fifth choice for the character of Nisha.

Karishma, won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in DTPH.

‘Maine To Mohabbat Kar Li’ was the title that was first considered for the film.

Shiamak Davar began his career in choreography for Hindi films with ‘DTPH’ and he went on to win the National Award for best Choreography.

Shahid Kapoor appears in the film as a background dancer in the song ‘Dil Le Gayi’

DTPH and Heyy Babyy (2007) are the only two films where Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar have appeared together.

In a scene where Pooja dances in an aerobics session, the song 'Mohabbat Karle' can be heard. This song came from a Hindipop album released by Shiamak Davar, the film's choreographer.

The term 'Dholna' used in the film had all the viewers in the cinema halls baffled, except for the Punjabis. It is the Punjabi slang word for 'sweetheart.'

Akshay Kumar was upset with Yash Chopra over not being paid what was promised to him. This led to Akshay not working with Yashraj films for 11 years.

Uttam Singh spent two years composing the music for DTPH.

The second highest-grossing Bollywood film in 1997.

The play Rahul and Pooja put on is called 'Maya', which means 'dream' or 'illusion' in Hindi.

DTPH was the first Bollywood movie to be shot in Baden-Baden, Germany, and in the German theme park Europa Park.

Karan Johar designed all of Shah Rukh Khan's costumes.

The roles of Pooja's foster parents were first offered to Anupam Kher and Hema Malini.

'MC U Reen' (Fliegenklatsche) by Azad sampled the song 'Dil To Pagal Hain'.

Dil To Pagal Hai was the second of Chopra's four consecutive films to star Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role.

It was the third film to feature Shah Rukh Khan opposite Madhuri Dixit.

Jackie Shroff was considered for the second lead role. They decided to go with Akshay Kumar to give it a more younger feel.

Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan were all offered the film's lead role.

Yash Chopra wanted the song 'Koi Ladki Hai' to be the title song of the film. Aditya Chopra advised him against it.

Karisma Kapoor actually had injured her foot during a dance sequence was admitted in Leelavati hospital, as shown in the film.

Ameesha Patel makes an uncredited appearance as the background announcer.

Pooja's foster father recites a poem in his first scene, the title song from Yash Chopra's previous film Sometimes (1976).

Karishma Kapoor had backed out of the Anil Kapoor and Sridevi movie Juddai, to act in Dil To pagal Hai which then Urmila did.

The Singh Brothers from the WWE were about to sing the song 'Bholi Si Soorat ' in the ring on the October 7,2019 episode of Monday Night Raw. This shows the popularity of the songs of DTPH.

The title track of the film Ek Duje ke vaaste features all crew members with their spouses. Aditya Chopra, who never makes appearances or gives interviews, is seen with his then wife Payal Khanna.

The scene where Shah Rukh Khan forgets to wear his pants was recreated next year in 1998 in the movie kuch kuch hota hai. Co-incidentally, The act was recreated on Shah Rukh Khan itself.

The film had a theatrical release in Canada.

Pandit Birju Maharaj chreographed Madhuri's Kathak Dance sequence in the film.