MovieChat Forums > Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) Discussion > Raj's 'joke'

Raj's 'joke'

posted 15 years ago by Lady_Lane
6 replies | jump to latest

I just recently saw this film for the first time and really loved it. I thought that the story was great and very creative, but one thing has always bugged me....

Did anyone else find Raj's joke about them sleeping together just unbelievably cruel? I understand that he's immature and spoiled at this point in the movie, but that stunt was pretty low, even for him.

I mean, he actually tricked her into believing that she had lost her most valuable asset: her virginity. Now, I'm not an Indian and do not speak for them, but I"m pretty sure that this meant that she was now considered worthless and no longer marriageable to anyone. How could he not have considered the emotional trauma that would put her through?

The truth ain't like a bunch of puppies running around you pick your favorite!

[–] Guj 15 years ago

hi Lady_Lane, the way i see it is i think whatever he would have said to her in that room as a joke he would have later admitted it as being a joke (as he did when he said he loved her on the bridge).

it was pretty cruel, and yes, as a very strick indian family that they are, it possible would have considered her worthless (kind of reminds me of Memoirs of a Geisha and the "Mizuage" scene). but that is what makes me love Raj as a character.

"Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature." - Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

[–] Val-El 15 years ago

also, he admitted it right away when he saw the effect it had on her. And, she forgave him right away.

[–] pbanerj1 15 years ago

I've never understood how one equates morality with virginity or how one's GREATEST asset as a woman is considered to be her virginity. And I'm a 100% Indian.

[–] luckysailorstar 10 years ago

I mean, he actually tricked her into believing that she had lost her most valuable asset: her virginity. Now, I'm not an Indian and do not speak for them, but I"m pretty sure that this meant that she was now considered worthless and no longer marriageable to anyone. How could he not have considered the emotional trauma that would put her through?

See, the virginity aspect never popped into my head. If they had premarital sex, presumably it could be kept under wraps. Simran being sly is part of character, as seen later by her wanting to elope. As for Raj, even though he talks big, I imagine no one would believe him when he told them what supposedly happened. It's "too out there", at least at that time when she hates his guts.

The reason that joke bothered me is that Simran was drunk to the point of blacking out. (At least as implied by her asking Raj what happened the previous night.) When sober she didn't care for him, but Raj was already trying to flirt with her from the get go. And if you recall the song before the joke, she was in a drunken state unknowingly making moves on Raj.

So if Raj had been telling the truth about them sleeping together, it would have meant that he did so when she was passed out because he thought she wanted it. AKA, date rape.

So to Simran, Raj was sounding very date-rapey. But in her "morning after" mind, she probably felt at fault for leading him on (i.e., blaming herself.)

Just a really messed up dark joke. At least he immediately apologized...

[–] ilahilda 9 years ago

Good grief, did she drink that whole bottle. I always thought her sleeping in the barn was stupid, Raj did offer to sleep on the couch in their suite. NTM, they had lit a bonfire, therefore the stable couldn't have been that cold. I thought the joke was callous too.

[–] cheerio_xo 8 years ago

If I was drunk with Raj, all morality would be out the window !!! (I'm just saying)