'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' is a heart-touching love story that exquisitely illumines every person's need to balance one's own dreams and ambitions with those of the family. This soulful drama depicts how far children can go for the love, approval and blessings of their elders.
Chaudhry Baldev Singh (Amrish Puri) is a London based immigrant. He, along with his wife Lajwanti (Farida Jalal) and two daughters Simran (Kajol) and Chutki (Pooja Ruparel) have been living in London for the past several years. A true Indian at heart, Chaudhry Baldev Singh is a man of strong morals and has tried to imbibe the very same in his daughters. He has brought them up with the belief that they are strangers in this foreign land and are here purely for financial reasons. One day, he believes they will all return one day back to Punjab, back to his roots, his land, his culture, one that he so strongly believes in.
Simran, is a dutiful daughter, but cherishes idealistic dreams of a perfect man who will come and sweep her off her feet, and waits for him to walk into her life. Soon enough, she realises the mere futility of her dreams, as her marriage has already been arranged to her father's best friend's son, Kuljeet (Parmeet Sethi).
Raj Malhotra (Shah Rukh Khan), another London-ased immigrant, is a regular rich spoilt brat brought up in the lap of luxury. He is a true playboy at heart. But he shares a beautiful relationship with his father Dharamvir Malhotra (Anupam Kher), a close bond that allows them to interact like best friends.
Raj and Simran, along with other friends meet on the Eurail. They go through an entire gamut of emotions. From initial hatred, to being acquaintances, to friendship and finally falling in love. They realise their true feelings for each other only when they part at the end of the trip.
Raj is aware of Simran's pre-planned marriage and feels there is no hope. Simran confides in her mother about her feelings for Raj. She tells her that she can't see life without him. Chaudhry overhears the conversation and gets furious. He makes an impulsive decision to leave for Punjab overnight. Meanwhile, Raj is encouraged by none other than his father, who tells him that if he truly loves Simran, he has to go and get her.
The second half of the movie is set against the colourful backdrop of rural Punjab; and in the presence of Chaudhry's extended family. A family that consists of his mother (Achla Sachdev), his brother (Lalit Tiwari), his unmarried sister (Himani Shivpuri) and his best friend Ajit Singh (Satish Shah). In search of Simran, Raj lands up in Punjab. Will their love story succeed in gaining the blessings and approval of the family?