Kajol’s sister in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is Sonakshi Sinha’s cousin, wore Poonam Sinha’s clothes in the film

Pooja Ruparel, in a recent conversation, recalled how she bagged both Rakesh Roshan’s King Uncle and Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Written by Entertainment Dek

Mumbai | Updated: October 23, 2025 01:45 PM IST

4 min read

Pooja Ruparel is the cousin of Sonakshi Sinha.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), which recently completed 30 years, remains one of the defining films of Hindi cinema. Its impact on audiences is timeless, and even actors in supporting roles gained immense popularity, much like the classic Sholay. One such actor is Pooja Ruparel, who is fondly remembered as Kajol’s sister Chutki in the film.

What many may not know, however, is that Pooja comes from a film family, she is the cousin of actress Sonakshi Sinha. In a recent interview, Pooja opened up about her origins and how her debut in Rakesh Roshan’s King Uncle eventually led to her role in DDLJ.

Speaking to Hindi Rush, Pooja Ruparel recalled how her relatively unknown and unpolished background surprisingly helped her land a major film: “My first break did happen because of that, but not in a direct way. My aunt, Poonam Sinha, (Sonakshi’s mother) still loves me a lot and pampers me a lot. Once, I had danced at a Diwali fun fair and my mother had recorded it on a VHS tape. One day, while there was interior designing work going on at my aunt’s place, Rakesh Roshan’s wife, Pinky Roshan, came to visit her and happened to see the tape. She was interested in knowing about me as they were looking for an actress for their film. She asked my aunt if she could meet me and get my phone number, which she did. So basically, I didn’t go out looking for work, it came to me.”

Pooja added, “It’s like what Imtiaz Ali says in one of his films: what you are seeking is seeking you. Eventually, Yash Raj Films took my number from Rakesh ji, and it wasn’t like many people were auditioning for my part or there was tension about whether I’d get it or not. It was very simple, they called me and soon I was on set. So, if things are meant to happen, they do. But if they aren’t, no matter how many auditions you give, it won’t fall in place.”

Also Read | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge turns 30: A journey through its songs, where Aditya Chopra’s authorship shone brightest

During the conversation, while showing stills from the film’s making, Pooja Ruparel shared a special memory about her costume: “This dress actually belonged to Poonam Sinha. I think my mother had carried a few options, and what they had initially planned for me didn’t work out. Then my mother offered if I could wear this, and they instantly said yes, it worked. So I wore it for the scenes. Thank you, my aunt.”

In an earlier interview with SCREEN, Pooja had revealed more about her career beginnings: “Three years after King Uncle, they got my number from Filmkraft’s office and gave me a call. By then, we had refused 100 offers. After King Uncle, every child actor role was offered to me first. Luckily, my parents had the foresight to say that I was not a money-making machine and that I would go back to school, even though we were very middle-class. So, I never felt like I was a star. But when the Chopras call, how do you tell them no?”

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