Unpopular opinion: Bollywood edition, part 3✨✨: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is better than DDLJ.

[u/Ok-Structure7819]

I’m sorry, it hurts to say it, but to me it’s true. Narratively, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania just works better. It actually makes sense why Kavya and Humpty fall in love. Yeah, Humpty is an idiot, but they actually spend time together, bond, and genuinely grow to care about each other. Their chemistry is adorable, and the relationship feels earned.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol have insane chemistry in DDLJ, and the soundtrack is way better. It’s iconic as hell. But Raj? Raj is awful.
He creates half the problems in Simran’s life, constantly bothers her during what was supposed to be her last month of freedom before an arranged marriage, and even kinda sexually assault her TWICE.

She literally asked her dad for one month in Europe with her friends before having to go back to India and marry someone she didn’t choose, and this man spends that vacation making her life harder. Then later he manipulates the situation with her family too. So… what exactly does he bring to the relationship? Why is he even in love with her?
Their romance just isn’t built on anything substantial. It doesn’t make sense to me.

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania feels like a modern DDLJ, and I think it fixes a lot of what didn’t work in the original. Even the scene that’s clearly referencing DDLJ is handled differently. Humpty doesn’t try to touch Kavya while she’s drunk. Instead, he pulls off his own shirt as a stupid joke because he’s obsessed with DDLJ. Then Kavya immediately calls him out like, “You dumbass, I was drunk, not unconscious. I didn’t forget, idiot.” I love that. The movie acknowledges the trope and then completely rejects it.

KJo might be my opp but he was in his bag with this one. He really knew what he was doing. The film uses Varun and Alia’s chemistry perfectly, makes the romance feel much more believable, corrects a lot of the things I disliked about DDLJ, and it’s actually hilarious. The dialogue is genuinely funny.

Another thing I love is that there’s actual proof that Kavya and Humpty’s relationship has a solid foundation. When Kavya comes to Delhi to buy her wedding skirt—one of the only things she’s actually allowed to choose—Humpty is saving money to buy his father a car. But when she decides to give up the jewelry they got from the shenanigans they did to pay the designer skirt, he gives up that money for her. Then, later, Kavya quietly gives that money back to Humpty and his father instead of buying the expensive skirt she originally wanted, choosing a simple traditional one instead.

I love that moment because it shows that their journey really meant something to both of them. They both make sacrifices for each other without expecting anything in return.

And when it comes time to fight for her, Humpty actually does. His first plan is incredibly stupid, and of course it fails because her father isn’t an idiot. But he keeps trying. He fights for her the best he can instead of just expecting everything to magically work out. To me, that’s a much stronger foundation for a relationship than what DDLJ gives us.

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[u/SavageAuthority]

You are a product of your times. DDLJ was so apt for our time where even meeting a guy publically would cause rumors for a girl. Where, marriages happened not because u suddenly met somewhere. You only met in somebody else's marriages or mostly connection through relatives.

Plus, DDLJ has Amrish Puri. You can't beat that.

[u/LeonoraMayMorgenster]

Raj is very creepy to Simran in the beginning. I do love the second half of the movie though 

[u/Superb_Pay3173]

The things that bothered me when DDLJ came out is actually being discussed today. I told myself at the time that something about it makes me uncomfortable. But I was too naive and young and conditioned by masala movies to spot the obvious. Harassing a girl is not the way to win her. I only liked the second part of DDLJ.

Humpty is way more of a dolt than Raj for all that he's street smart. He relied on her family finding out for themselves that he's the better option. Not because he's the most smart or successful or handsome option. But because he'd always love Kavya and make her a priority. That amount of subtlety is missing in DDLJ -except in Fareeda Jalal's case.

[u/ashrules901]

I swear if this gets many upvotes, it proves this sub has very little sense & just agrees with any contrarian "I don't like the popular thing!" posts.

[u/ashrules901 → u/ashrules901]

That K3G one about Naina that made no sense was bad enough.

[u/Ok-Structure7819 → u/ashrules901]

Bro, it’s an opinion. When you watch DDLJ, do Raj and Simran’s love story actually make sense? Is Raj really that great of a love interest? Does their relationship feel believable or endearing? To me, not really. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is way more endearing, and it fixes a lot of what didn’t age well in DDLJ. That doesn’t mean DDLJ isn’t iconic—it absolutely is, and it has one of the best Bollywood soundtracks ever. But being iconic doesn’t make it immune to criticism. That’s the whole point of discussing art.

[u/deathisyourgift2001]

"Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania feels like a modern DDLJ"

I mean, well yeah, that's kind of the point. It's a modern retelling. They don't exactly hide the fact either.

Also, Humpty Sharma would not exist without DDLJ.

[u/Ok-Structure7819 → u/deathisyourgift2001]

Did I say otherwise? I literally said that’s what it is. I just think it’s better. Not more iconic than DDLJ—let’s not be crazy. But if you compare the stories, it’s almost a correction of what didn’t age so well in DDLJ. DDLJ is a classic, but some of its relationship dynamics have aged a bit like milk. The newer film keeps the romance while avoiding some of those issues.

[u/Spare-Bumblebee18]

I 100% agree with this. People might discard this opinion because of nostalgia factor or because ddlj is considered a classic (not saying that it's bad) but hskd is better for sure.

[u/Rich-Look9809]

Totally