Reviewed by Nikki Cotter

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Inspired by India’s longest running Bollywood movie the heartwarming romcom Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (or DDLJ to those in the know), Come Fall In Love is the latest production to join the incredibly successful ‘Manchester Gets It First’ scheme, and judging by tonight’s rapturous audience response is another sure-fire hit.

With an award-winning creative team which includes original director of the much-loved 1995 movie Aditya Chopra, Come Fall In Love which was originally performed in San Diego in 2022 has been reworked for UK audiences. We’re introduced to Simran, (Jena Pandya) a young British Asian woman who is off inter-railing round Europe with her best friend for a final summer of freedom before she flies to India for an arranged marriage. However, as with all good romcoms, things don’t quite go according to plan and her carefree adventure suddenly gets a little more interesting with the addition of white British boy Rog (Ashley Day) unexpectedly coming along for the ride. After prickly beginnings the pair grow closer over a bottle or two of champagne and Simran enters a battle between head and heart which is when the fun really begins.

This vibrant production is full of light, burst with colour and radiates joy as we follow the twists and turns of this unconventional love story. Act 1 gently sets the scene for an exhilarating Act 2 as the action relocates to India filling the stage with colour as this cross-cultural love story plays out.

Jena Pandya is a wonderful Simran, playful and proud she’s enormously likeable, she looks like she’s having the time of her life in the role and shines brightly both in the big ensemble numbers and in the quieter more emotive scenes. The chemistry with Ashley Day as Rog although with most romcoms happens quickly feels believable and charming. Ashley Day is a fantastic lead, the role of Rog is hugely demanding and he rises to the challenge convincingly. He goes on quite the journey from our first meeting him as his true character is revealed ensuring we all fall a little bit in love with him.

There is strong support from the ensemble cast with special mentions going to Simran’s parents Baldev (Irvine Iqbal) and Lajjo (Harveen Mann-Neary) who bring both humour and a gentle tenderness to the story. Simran’s planned Indian finance Kuljit is played by an outstanding Kinshuk Sen while Kara Lane camps it up brilliantly as Rog’s Mum, Minky.

 Reimagining this classic love story and adding a more contemporary multicultural twist has given the creatives an opportunity to bring this uplifting story bang up to date. The book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde), are witty and engaging with the music by legendary composers Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani blends stunning Indian melodies with multiple Western genres reflecting the love story happening on stage perfectly.

Choreographer Rob Ashford along with associate choreographer and Indian dancing specialist Shruti Merchant have created magic here which is delivered by the talented ensemble in stunning style while Derek Mclane’s striking set design further adds to the visual beauty of this piece.

With heaps of heart and joyous humanity, Come Fall In Love is an uplifting story beautifully told. It will delight audiences of the original Bollywood film and now doubt gain a new army of fans from audiences seeing the show for the first time. This high-energy production has all the fun of a romcom but adds in a welcome emotional depth resulting in an enormously entertaining production.

Come Fall In Love is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Saturday 21st June tickets available here.