Maratha Mandir and DDLJ to set guiness record

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Maratha Mandir seem to be lucky for each other.

Both are slated to mark an entry into the Guiness Book of World Records and officials will soon visit the Maratha Mandir in central Mumbai to record a record a decade of uninterrupted running of DDLJ.

Though Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has kept audiences enthralled for over five decades at St Martin's Theatre in London breaking all world records, in the celluloid world, no film has run this long, claim industry sources.

"The Yash Raj film hit the theatre in September 1995. Since then, I never had to look at any other film to fill in the matinee show. The Guiness Book officials will visit us soon," says Manoj Desai, executive director, Fida Films and Hotel Company, which runs Maratha Mandir.

So far, DDLJ has had 3,770 shows. Desai says that the movie ran to packed houses for the initial two years and the next eight years, it showed around 70 per cent occupancy.

Even today, the weekend shows run to packed houses. Maratha Mandir has generated around Rs 4 crore for Yash Raj Films from this movie. Overall, the mid-budget film has made Rs 200 crore in India.

DDLJ was a debut film of Chopra's son Aditya Chopra who directed the NRI love story between Raj ( Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran ( Kajol). It was not only a box office hit but was won several awards including the national award for the best film providing popular and wholesome entertainment.

Says Taran Adarsh, editor of Trade Guide and also a film critic, "DDLJ has a captivating essence that has transcended the barriers of time. It's a benchmark for wholesome entertainment having all elements "" romance, music and emotions. It has achieved a cult status."

As the movie approaches its 500th week, Yash Raj Films plans to release it across 125 multiplex screens in the country. Maratha Mandir is planning a celebration where its patrons will be invited.

The list of patrons includes a Mumbai-based couple who has watched it 350 times and a couple of collies (porters) at the Mumbai Central Station who have seen it over 300 times.