Director-producer Aditya Chopra has been nominated for the UK Stage Debut Awards for his stage play, Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical which had a successful run at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year.
The 1995 romantic-musical Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) starring Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, was adapted into a theatrical production which had its UK premiere in May.
Aditya reprised his role as director of the English language stage production, which revolves around the love story of Simran and Roger.
“This year’s nominees truly embody the future of British theatre, and I can’t wait to celebrate their achievements,” said Alistair Smith, editor of ‘The Stage’ theatrical publication.
“Judging the Stage Debut Awards was as thrilling as it was challenging. The sheer breadth and brilliance of emerging talent across the UK made narrowing down our longlist of more than 200 eligible theatre-makers no easy task,” he said.
The annual Stage Debut Awards are now in their 8th year and highlight breakthrough actors, writers, directors, designers, composers or lyricists to help cement their position in the industry.
A selection of expert advisers including casting directors, producers, designers and other creatives from across the UK help the judges curate the shortlist for the awards, which are being held in association with streaming giant Netflix.
The 46 nominations originate from UK shows staged across all parts of the United Kingdom to shine a spotlight on individuals making their professional or West End debuts in acting, directing, design, writing and musical composition.
“This year there are several individuals with South Asian heritage being recognised for their excellence in directing: among the nominees is Amit Sharma for Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde (in the Best Creative West End Debut category),” said the awards panel in a statement.
Also nominated are Adam Karim for Guards at the Taj at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, and visionary Indian filmmaker Aditya Chopra for Come Fall In Love at Manchester’s Opera House, who are both in the running for the Best Director category, the statement added.
The winners of the 2025 awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 28, with the Best West End Debut Performer as the only category to be chosen by a public vote.
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, which completed its UK debut run in Manchester in June, was a nod to the original as it followed Simran as a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India in an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger.
UK-based actors Jena Pandya and Ashley Day played Simran and Roger in the production, featuring an original score complete with 18 English songs and music by Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani.
The creative team also included choreographer Rob Ashford, of Disney’s Frozen fame, with co-choreography by Shruti Merchant.