Thirty years after the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge—the blockbuster diaspora romance that not only set a new benchmark for commercial cinema in Bollywood, but also turned out to be longest-running film in Indian cinema history—it is back, charming a fresh set of audiences, albeit as a re-imagined Broadway-style stage adaptation. Come Fall in Love–The DDLJ Musical, directed by the OG Aditya Chopra, had a triumphant run between May 29 and June 21 at England’s Manchester Opera House. And among the cast was Kinshuk Sen (interestingly enough, the now 30-year-old was born the year the iconic movie had first hit the theatres), whose standout solo performance as the as ‘clowning fiancé Kuljit’ in the ‘raucous number Hot and Independent and Hot’, had found a special mention in The Guardian’s review. But this is not his first rodeo. He was also part of the San Diego chapter of the YRF musical and worked with Mira Nair on Monsoon Wedding: The Musical, where he aced the role of Varun—the bride’s younger brother— who in the musical is portrayed as unabashedly queer. “The character that did not have too much of a part in the film but really became prominent in the staged musical. My favourite story about Mira will always be how I auditioned for the part. We got on a Zoom call first, only to realise that we were actually in the same city at the time—Delhi. So, I went to her house and actually spoke to her about Varun’s role and auditioned. It was one of the easiest audition processes that I’ve ever been in—she did not pressurise or limit me. She allowed me to play with the character as much as possible,” reveals Kinshuk. 

However, for The UCLA graduate in Cognitive Science, showbiz was not part of the plan—although he was literally born into it. Kinshuk is the son of Euphoria frontman, Palash Sen, and his first gig was as a 4-year-old. “I sang the nursery rhyme Nani Teri Morni. I was painfully shy and nervous, so my beloved teacher, Mrs Sahana Mukherji, held my hand on stage while I sang,” guffaws the now 30-year-old.  

He grew up in Delhi, far from the industry and the spotlight, and went to a public school. “I was just a regular kid in school. I only stood out, and probably not in the best way, because I was the only boy who wanted to dance, unlike my cohort of boys who only wanted to play sports and looked down on the arts as being too feminine,” he chuckles. He took to the stage as fish to the sea. “I took every opportunity to get on stage to act, sing, or dance. And since I was the only boy who willingly did it, I was involved with every intra-or-inter-school event which required performing. I don’t think I had a preference between acting or singing…still don’t. I just want the opportunity to get on stage or in front of a camera and perform. I’m quite the circus monkey,” he recalls.  

But, according to Kinshuk, after graduating, he started working as a Lab Research Associate at UCLA—he liked the stability of a 9-to-5 job. That was until he did a show called In The Heights in LA, and a talent management company offered to represent him. “It took me months to say yes, but when I did, it was because it sounded like a dream I had long suppressed, possibly because I was very comfortable just working in science,” says Kinshuk.  

From science to stage, Kinshuk’s journey so far has been seamless. However, the actor, who has been working professionally in the business for just about 3 years, also has a Hollywood movie credit under his belt. In fact, In A Silent Way—a 2022 dark comedy about a young jazz musician—was one of his first auditions in Hollywood. The Collin Levin-directed indie that has Kinshuk credited among its top cast, got a fantastic response at multiple film festivals, including a North American release before being parked on Apple TV+. “It was such a phenomenal process being a part of a project like that. I had the absolute best time working with all the professionals. They were all established insiders in the business; producers and casting directors who had worked in Hollywood for decades and worked with the biggest of names,” says the actor. But he admits that it is still not that easy for Indian actors to foray into Hollywood. “Yes, we have made massive leaps in the right direction, but we are still nowhere near where we should be. Certain stereotypes and colonial hangups still haunt us. However, just like any other business, people understand the impact and outreach of the Indian diaspora and as an audience, we are very valuable to them. I do think that over the next decade, we will be in a phenomenal space as South Asians in Hollywood and on Broadway,” he says.  

Did you take up acting to avoid being compared with your dad?  

Not at all. My decisions have never been made on the basis of what my parents have been able to achieve or not achieve. However, I do confess, that now when I am performing in the US or the UK, and I am booking jobs on my own, or being reviewed for my work without anyone comparing me to my father or attributing my success to nepotism, it does feel fulfilling. So maybe I subconsciously chose my area of the world to avoid comparisons, but not my line of work.  

How is it to perform on stage with your dad? Your most favourite and least favourite thing about jamming with him?  

I say this with as little bias as I possibly can, but I truly think my dad has one of the strongest stage acts there is to see, globally. He understands his audience superbly well and knows how to crowd work. I have never been to a boring Euphoria show; they truly live up to their name. So, performing with him on stage is an absolute delight!  

My favourite thing about jamming with him is seeing his creative process. How he sonically and lyrically creates a number, usually also thinking about the visuals for it simultaneously! It’s the best free masterclass one can get on composing.   

How do you rate him as an artist, a rockstar, a father? 

I would rate him the highest as a father. Then as an artist because he truthfully is one of the best songwriters out there, and then probably as a rockstar.  

What can you reveal about the DDLJ musical?  

The musical, Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical, is its own entity. It is a larger-than-life spectacle that keeps heart of DDLJ, but takes its own spin on romance and cross-cultural ties in 2025. Without ruining too much, all I will say is that if you get to watch it, you won’t be disappointed because at its core, it is the same message of love and acceptance as the film, but with a modern twist.  

I play Kuljeet [the role was essayed by Parmeet Sethi in the 1995 movie]. He has been characterised differently than the film, and Adi sir really allowed me free reign with him. Our composers, Vishal and Sheykhar have composed some of the best songs currently on stage, and our choreographers Rob Ashford and Shruti Merchant are showcasing forms of dances that have never been seen at this scale before on a global scale.  

How did you land the part? 

My association with the DDLJ musical has now been for three years. I first did it in San Diego, where I had to audition via self-tape because all the auditions were held in New York while I was living in Los Angeles. I was the last person to get cast as the rest of the team that had been already working on this project for about a year prior. Working with a man like Aditya Chopra, who is as kind as he is cerebral, was one of the most fulfilling processes in my entire life.  

DDLJ is a cultural phenomenon. What was the impact of the movie on you? 

My mom still recounts the fact that one of the first songs I ever sang as a baby was Mere Khwaabon Main Jo Aaye.’ This movie for me, as for most Indian kids who were born in the late 90’s to early 2000’s, was possibly my first introduction to a true love story. What Adi sir was able to achieve in 1995 was something completely unprecedented and groundbreaking. He still is, in my opinion, one of the best filmmakers in modern cinema, and no one showcases love like he does. So, when I get to work with him on a musical based on DDLJ, it truly is a pinch me moment. I have watched the film at least 50 times at this point, and I find something new every time. To be a part of the legacy of this film is humbling.  

What is your take on Bollywood romances in general?  

I think romance as a genre in movies and music is my favourite. I really do love ‘love’. I am quite a Pisces in that way. Especially when it comes to Rom-Coms; it is my go-to genre on a Saturday night after finishing my 8-show week! I could watch Hum Tum, Bunty aur Babli, 27 Dresses, Notting Hill, Jab We Met, Mohabattein, Kal Ho Na Ho a hundred times over.  

What is your take on love songs in Bollywood? Which is your favourite go-to Bollywood love song? 

I love Bollywood music—it is in my blood! I grew up in the 2000’s which was the height of Bollywood romance and music. During the time, not only did we get fresher sounds but also new perspectives on love, and we also started hearing and seeing the female perspective on love be showcased. I think my favourite modern Bollywood love song is Kuchh Toh Hua Hai from Kal Ho Na Ho. The day I find a lady who makes my heart sing, believe me, my voice will sing too! 

Your dad has also created some of the most beautiful love songs as part of his band. What is your take on those?  

I think my dad’s strongest written songs are his love songs! I think his audience will agree! Lyrically too, they are clean and simple, which is how love should be! Ab Na Ja is definitely my favourite true love song by him, and it is also my favourite to perform. But Jiya Jaye Na is a very close second.  

We don’t have love songs in movies the way we used to anymore. Do you think social media and the proliferation of dating apps can be held responsible for the death of romance as we knew it? 

In a way, yes. I think we have become very cynical and guarded as people, myself included. Love and romance have taken a much lower ranking in our lives, and possibly rightfully so. My generation has lived through multiple recessions, mass unemployment, wars, a whole pandemic. We are just trying to pay our bills at the end of the day. So, I guess most new and young writers are also unable to separate themselves from the reality of our world. But hope remains! I think romance in music and film can be (possibly should be) aspirational. If everything was realistic in films, it would be the news. Also, I feel art impacts life greatly. So maybe if we show aspirational love in films, we can all aspire for a similar kind of love in real life. 

Are you on dating apps? 

I am not on apps; I find it too impersonal, and hard to trust folks! In this world of AI, God knows who is who. I try to keep things pretty simple in life. In any case, my career is my first priority right now!  

What is your one non-negotiable dating red flag? 

I have many red flags that I try to avoid, but the one that I see the most in Indian relationships, platonic or romantic, is when your partner doesn’t fight for you or stand up for you in front of others; they make jokes at your expense, and that too in public. As a couple, you should be a united front, in 99 per cent of scenarios. You’re my better half! If I am in the wrong, make me better, but don’t embarrass me for a couple of giggles. It really gets my goat.  

On the work front, how is 2025 looking for you?  

My biggest tick off my to-do list was to perform in the United Kingdom, which I have now thanks to the DDLJ Musical! I am currently working on a new feature film in LA that goes into pre-production right after this show ends. I am just excited to be pursuing this line of work.  

Do you have any plans to work in Bollywood? 

I would love to work in Bollywood one day as an actor and a singer. I am only 3 years old in the industry, so I have a long way to go! But hopefully I can let you in on some news, and soon!