Farida Jalal, a veteran actress of the Indian film industry, has been in the business for 57 years and has acted in more than 200 films. While her acting prowess is commendable, her role in the iconic movie ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (DDLJ) stands out. In a 2014 interview, Farida Jalal spoke about how DDLJ played a crucial role in her life and changed her career graph for the better.
Farida ji played the role of Kajol’s mother in DDLJ, who supported her daughter in pursuing her happiness. Fans loved her character, and filmmakers wanted to cast her in their movies. Farida ji shared in an interview that after DDLJ, she was placed on a pedestal and had multiple offers in hand.
During a conversation with Rediff.com, Farida Jalal revealed that DDLJ gave her career a boost and was a turning point for her. “I got a lot of films after DDLJ released, and I could quote any price,” she said.
Farida Jalal has played important supporting roles in numerous hit Bollywood movies. She added that after the release of DDLJ, the placement of her name in film credits changed as well. “This means a lot for a character artist like me,” she said.
In an interesting anecdote about DDLJ, Farida ji shared that she never went to London to shoot the film. Most of the movie was filmed at Filmistan Studios, including the London house and the song ‘Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna,’ among many other scenes.
Farida ji’s role in DDLJ is one of her best performances to date and one of the best portrayals of Indian mothers on-screen. She deserved every bit of the appreciation she received after the movie’s success.
