Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical Shines at Manchester Opera House, Celebrating Indo-UK Cultural Collaboration

Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical Shines at Manchester Opera House, Celebrating Indo-UK Cultural Collaboration
 By Prem Kumar Thu, 5 Jun 2025
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical Shines at Manchester Opera House, Celebrating Indo-UK Cultural Collaboration
In a landmark celebration of Indian cinema and UK-India cultural ties, Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical made its grand debut on Wednesday, 4 June at the historic Manchester Opera House. Adapted from the iconic Bollywood film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), this new English musical runs until 21 June, presenting a fresh and vibrant reimagining of one of India's most beloved cinematic love stories.

UK Government Applauds Cultural Ties Through Theatre Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the UK, expressed her enthusiasm and support for the production: “It was an honour to represent the UK in India last month and engage in meaningful discussions with my ministerial counterparts to enhance our rich cultural ties. The arrival of one of Bollywood’s most cherished stories on the UK stage is a powerful testament to our deepening relationship. I hope Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical achieves great success in Manchester, while also showcasing the incredible talents of British and local North West performers.” 🏙️ Manchester: A Proud Host of the UK Premiere Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, echoed the excitement surrounding the premiere: “We are proud to host the UK premiere of this remarkable musical. Manchester has always embraced creativity, diversity, and global storytelling. This reimagining of a classic Indian film marks a significant milestone in our ongoing cultural collaboration with India.” 🎬 A Global Celebration of Indian Storytelling Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films (YRF), emphasized the global significance of the event: “Bringing Indian stories to the global stage is always a privilege for YRF. DDLJ is not only a beloved film but also a cornerstone of Indian cinema. We are excited to introduce Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical to new audiences while rekindling nostalgia among longtime fans. We’re grateful for the support from Lisa Nandy, the city of Manchester, the Opera House, and the Mayor for enabling us to share India’s cultural essence with the UK.” 🎭 About the Musical Based on: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the longest-running film in Indian cinema history, continuously playing in Mumbai since 1995. Music: Features 18 brand-new original English songs. Cast: Showcases a mix of emerging British talent, many from Manchester and the North West, along with renowned South Asian artists. Lead Roles: Jena Pandya as Simran Ashley Day as Rog Irvine Iqbal, Kara Lane, Harveen Mann-Neary, Amonik Melaco, Millie O’Connell, and others in key supporting roles. 🌟 The Creative Team This grand production brings together an award-winning team from across the globe: Book & Lyrics: Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde) Music: Vishal Dadlani & Sheykhar Ravjiani (Bollywood’s famed duo Vishal-Shekhar) Choreography: Rob Ashford (Tony, Olivier & Emmy Award-winner) Indian Dance Choreography: Shruti Merchant Set Design: Derek McLane (Tony Award winner) Casting: David Grindrod CDG Lighting: Japhy Weideman Sound: Tony Gayle Video Design: Akhila Krishnan Musical Supervision: Ted Arthur Music Direction: Benjamin Holder 🎟️ A Must-See Cultural Milestone Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is more than a stage show — it is a vibrant celebration of cinematic history, cross-cultural storytelling, and the timeless magic of love. Whether you're revisiting the DDLJ you grew up with or experiencing it for the first time, this musical promises to enchant and inspire.

UK Government Applauds Cultural Ties Through Theatre

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the UK, expressed her enthusiasm and support for the production: “It was an honour to represent the UK in India last month and engage in meaningful discussions with my ministerial counterparts to enhance our rich cultural ties. The arrival of one of Bollywood’s most cherished stories on the UK stage is a powerful testament to our deepening relationship.
I hope Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical achieves great success in Manchester, while also showcasing the incredible talents of British and local North West performers.”

 Manchester: A Proud Host of the UK Premiere

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, echoed the excitement surrounding the premiere:“We are proud to host the UK premiere of this remarkable musical. Manchester has always embraced creativity, diversity, and global storytelling. This reimagining of a classic Indian film marks a significant milestone in our ongoing cultural collaboration with India.”

 A Global Celebration of Indian Storytelling

Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films (YRF), emphasized the global significance of the event:“Bringing Indian stories to the global stage is always a privilege for YRF. DDLJ is not only a beloved film but also a cornerstone of Indian cinema.


We are excited to introduce Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical to new audiences while rekindling nostalgia among longtime fans.
We’re grateful for the support from Lisa Nandy, the city of Manchester, the Opera House, and the Mayor for enabling us to share India’s cultural essence with the UK.”

 About the Musical

  • Based on: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the longest-running film in Indian cinema history, continuously playing in Mumbai since 1995.

  • Music: Features 18 brand-new original English songs.

  • Cast: Showcases a mix of emerging British talent, many from Manchester and the North West, along with renowned South Asian artists.

  • Lead Roles:

    • Jena Pandya as Simran

    • Ashley Day as Rog

    • Irvine Iqbal, Kara Lane, Harveen Mann-Neary, Amonik Melaco, Millie O’Connell, and others in key supporting roles.

 The Creative Team

This grand production brings together an award-winning team from across the globe:

  • Book & Lyrics: Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde)

  • Music: Vishal Dadlani & Sheykhar Ravjiani (Bollywood’s famed duo Vishal-Shekhar)

  • Choreography: Rob Ashford (Tony, Olivier & Emmy Award-winner)

  • Indian Dance Choreography: Shruti Merchant

  • Set Design: Derek McLane (Tony Award winner)

  • Casting: David Grindrod CDG

  • Lighting: Japhy Weideman

  • Sound: Tony Gayle

  • Video Design: Akhila Krishnan

  • Musical Supervision: Ted Arthur

  • Music Direction: Benjamin Holder

A Must-See Cultural Milestone

Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is more than a stage show — it is a vibrant celebration of cinematic history, cross-cultural storytelling, and the timeless magic of love. Whether you're revisiting the DDLJ you grew up with or experiencing it for the first time, this musical promises to enchant and inspire.

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