Ajay Devgn’s career in the 1990s was marked by a series of films blending action and romance, with ‘Diljale’ standing out as a favorite. The movie, a blend of patriotism and love, continues to resonate with audiences, with its dialogues frequently used in memes. While Sonali Bendre’s performance in the film was captivating, she wasn’t the initial pick for the lead female role.
As per IMDb, Ajay Devgn was the first choice for the film, and the filmmakers had previously collaborated with him on the hit movie ‘Dilwale’ (1994). The intention was to cast Juhi Chawla as the female lead, but due to scheduling conflicts with films like ‘Yes Boss’ and ‘Mastana,’ she was unable to commit. The offer then went to Sonali Bendre, who accepted the part.
‘Diljale’ was directed by Harry Baweja and produced by Harry and Pammi Baweja. The film boasted a cast including Ajay Devgn, Sonali Bendre, Amrish Puri, Madhoo, Parmeet Sethi, Farida Jalal, Shakti Kapoor, and Gulshan Grover.
With a budget of 5 crore, ‘Diljale’ earned 15.80 crore worldwide, becoming a commercial success. The film highlighted Devgn’s acting, and his work in ‘Dilwale’ led the producers to cast him in ‘Diljale’ and subsequent projects.
The film’s soundtrack, featuring songs like ‘Mera Mulk Mera Desh,’ ‘Ho Nahin Sakta,’ ‘Shaam Hai Dhuan Dhuan,’ and ‘Jiske Aane Se,’ was a major success. The plot involves Radhika (Sonali Bendre), the daughter of Raja Saab (Shakti Kapoor), who is in love with Shyam (Ajay Devgn). Raja Saab opposes their relationship and orchestrates Shyam’s downfall by framing and killing his patriotic father.
Shyam is then forced to flee and is labeled a terrorist. The film’s narrative follows the twists and turns of the story as Radhika seeks to uncover the truth. ‘Diljale’ can be watched on G5 and YouTube.