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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Review: Culture collide in rom com musical Come Fall in Love
East definitely meets West in this new production, the latest show to premiere in Manchester, inspired by one of the most successful Bollywood movies of all time. If you have never seen or even heard of Dilwale Dulhania Le Joyenge (DDLJ to its legion of fans) it doesn't matter. Come Fall in Love follows a well trodden rom-com plotline with a few twists thrown in. Essentially uptight, ultra-organised Simran is off to Europe for a final break before she goes back to India for her arranged marriage having taken an instant dislike to wild party boy Rog at university. Ashley Day & Jena Pandya in Come In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan PerssonHe ends up on the trip, circumstances throw them together, they fall in love. But will true love shine through in spite of the cultural and social barriers in their way? What do you think? It's a trope that's been well used from Jane Austen onwards but some times the old 'uns remain the best. Read also: 'This show's so modern and so relevant - it's good medicine' says Ashley Day The show's got an impressive pedigree. It's directed by Aditya Chopra, the man behind the original film; the book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, a stage musical legend responsible for Mean Girls and Legally Blonde and the composers, Vishal and Sheykhar, are genuine icons of the Indian music scene. It's also been given the big build up and that can sometimes be a hindrance. I have to say I was expecting more in terms of spectacle and the show overall wasn't as 'big' as I'd hoped it might be. Some of the set pieces hint at what might have been. The ensemble give it everything and the dance routines had the audience whooping with delight. There are also some terrific performances. Irvine Iqbal and Harveen Mann-Neary as Simran's parents have real chemistry. He's the loving father struggling to come to terms with his 'little girl' growing up; she's his perfect foil with love and charm oozing out of every pore. Kara Lane & Kinshuk Sen in Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan Persson)Karla Lane as Rog's ultra-posh, sexy mum Minky and Kinshuk Sen as Simran's 'intended' Kuljit make for the most unlikely double act but heir duet Hot and Independent and Hot is one of the highlights of the show. The first half of the show could do with tightening up. It basically sets the scene for the second half when the action moves to India and which is noticeably slicker and more engaging and is a full-on assault on the senses. Ashley Day as Rog also seems to come alive in the second act. He does sound like presenter and comedian Joel Dommett but when he sings, you can see why he's been in demand for musicals in the West End and New York. He's also some dancer, coping with the myriad of styles in the show with grace and ease. The spark of romance with Jena Panya as Simran could perhaps burn brighter and she has a difficult role. She's headstrong yet vulnerable, caught between two cultures - and she certainly resonated with a large number of the audience. And it's with the audience that the show is a real success. On press night it was a very different crowd than you would normally see. It was so good - and so important - to see a truly diverse audience at a mainstream show. The Company of Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan Persson) There are some lovely messages within Come Fall in Love about family, selfless love and our need as humans to realise we're all connected. And seeing such a diverse cast on stage is also a major plus. Perhaps Come Fall in Love is just trying to tick too many boxes to be truly outstanding but it does make an important statement. Come Fall in Love runs until Saturday, June 21. Details from
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shah Rukh Khan surprises the new Raj & Simran at London's DDLJ musical rehearsal: ‘was so generous with his time'
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) is turning 30 this year — and what better way to mark the occasion than with Shah Rukh Khan himself blessing the next generation of Raj and Simran? The cast of the Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical had a moment when SRK made a surprise visit to their London rehearsal room of and let's just say… goosebumps were felt. The king of Bollywood, fresh off his fashionable debut at the Met Gala, dropped by to watch the cast bring iconic scenes from the beloved film to life — and the moment was pure magic. No watered-down West End version here: this production is helmed by none other than Aditya Chopra, the man who directed the original 1995 film. A post shared by Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (@comefallinlovemusical) Jena Pandya, who's stepping into Simran's timeless jhumkas, shared the surreal moment: 'Meeting Shah Rukh Khan and having him in the rehearsal room was such an honour. He was so generous with his time and support for the show. Being able to show him some of the iconic scenes that himself and Kajol originally established was an incredible feeling and will be a long-lasting memory for me. I can't wait to head to Manchester next week and put this story on stage!' Ashley Day, who plays the updated Raj a.k.a. Rog, was equally moved: 'When he arrived in our rehearsal room and met the full company, it was a moment that quietly landed on all of us—special in a way that didn't need words. Watching everyone take him in, I could feel how meaningful it was. He greeted us all with such love and genuine excitement about what we've been building. I can't imagine what it must feel like to see a project — beloved by millions — being reimagined as a musical 30 years later. And yet, he kept asking to see more! The words we shared privately are for one Raj to another Rog—but I will say, he was very happy. It was an unbelievable afternoon. I'll never forget it.' The musical is in very good hands musically too, with fan-favourite duo Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani composing the score. Lyrics are penned by Nell Benjamin, and the choreography is being handled by Rob Ashford — with additional magic by co-choreographer Shruti Merchant. The show makes its UK premiere at Manchester Opera House on Thursday, 29 May 2025 and will run until June 21. If Shah Rukh Khan himself approves, what more do you need?
India Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
SRK meets new Raj and Simran from DDLJ-inspired musical, Come Fall In Love. Pics
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan met the new Raj and Simran from the 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge'-inspired musical 'Come Fall In Love'. The actor met the leads, Jena Pandya and Ashley Day, who play Simran and Roger, respectively, along with the crew of the Rukh, who became a global household name as Raj in the 1995 original film, dropped by ahead of the musical's UK premiere, which opens at the Manchester Opera House on May 29. Dressed casually in a white T-shirt and denims, the actor was all smiles as he posed for a photo with the musical's visit was kept under wraps until the musical's official Instagram account shared the pictures. Shah Rukh Khan meets Dilwale Dulhaniya Lejayenge - inspired musical, 'Come Fall In Love' cast and crew in London. (Photo Credit: comefallinlovemusical) Jena Pandya, stepping into the role originally made famous by Bollywood actor Kajol, spoke of her admiration after meeting the legendary actor. 'Meeting Shah Rukh Khan and having him in the rehearsal room was such an honour. He was so generous with his time and support for the show. Being able to show him some of the iconic scenes that he and Kajol originally established was an incredible feeling and will be a long-lasting memory for me. I can't wait to head to Manchester next week and put this story on stage!," she Day, who plays Roger, a reimagined version of Raj, described the moment, saying, 'When he arrived in our rehearsal room and met the full company, it was a moment that quietly landed on all of us, especially in a way that didn't need words,' he said. 'He greeted us all with such love and genuine excitement about what we've been building. I can't imagine what it must feel like to see a project - beloved by millions - being reimagined as a musical 30 years later. And yet, he kept asking to see more!," Day added. Shah Rukh Khan meets new Raj and Simran along with the DDLJ musical crew (Photo Credit: Instagram/comefallinlovemusical) 'Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical' is directed by the original film director Aditya Chopra and reimagines the cross-cultural love story across the UK and India. It retains the heart of the film while offering a fresh take with an all-new English score composed by musical duo Vishal and Shekhar, following in the footsteps of the original's music legends musical features a cast including Irvine Iqbal, Kara Lane, Harveen Mann-Neary, Amonik Melaco, Millie O'Connel, Ankur Sabharwal, Kinshuk Sen, and Russel Reel IN THIS STORY#Kajol Devgan
