Actor Parmeet Sethi recently sparked a significant debate by asserting that Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Raj, was the true antagonist in the iconic 1995 film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Sethi, who portrayed Kuljeet Singh, the fiancée of Kajol’s character Simran, maintains his own role was misjudged.
In a recent interview, Sethi stated that Kuljeet did nothing inherently wrong within the film’s narrative. He argued that it was Raj who actively pursued and ultimately “took away” Kuljeet’s fiancée, Simran. Sethi highlighted that his character never sought out Raj’s romantic interest.
This perspective challenges the long-held view of DDLJ’s romantic hero. For decades, Raj has been celebrated as the ideal lover, winning over Simran and her family against traditional expectations.
The discourse has resonated widely, with social media users largely supporting Sethi’s re-evaluation. Many fans are now re-examining the archetypes of Bollywood’s celebrated heroes.
An existing viral video also features actor Manoj Bajpayee expressing a similar sentiment. He notes that in the film Veer Zaara, Shah Rukh Khan’s character similarly attempts to win over his fiancée, yet the audience typically sides against Bajpayee’s character.
Social media users have extended this argument to other Shah Rukh Khan films. One commenter pointed out parallels in movies like Devdas, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Darr, Baazigar, and Koyla, suggesting a recurring pattern of Khan’s characters pursuing women already involved with others.
Another user commented that Shah Rukh’s characters frequently “seduced and took away someone else’s girlfriend, fiancée, or wife,” often succeeding in their romantic endeavors.
