Sooraj Barjatya has been one of the most iconic directors in Indian cinema, starting with his debut film Maine Pyar Kiya. Since then, he has delivered classics like Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Vivah, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, and Uunchai. Despite delivering some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, Barjatya remains extremely humble about his work.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, speaking about his journey, he shared, “I had seen my father experience failure, and when you witness that, you realize how important hard work is. You can’t take anything for granted, and if you do, the appreciation you receive will disappear. As a filmmaker, I feel responsible for creating stories that make the next generation believe in trust and relationships. In my films, I see fewer youngsters in the crowd, but they bring their parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts—and that is such a joy to witness. In a theater, you’ll see people with white hair alongside those with funky haircuts.”
Recalling a special moment, he added, “One of the biggest compliments I’ve received was at Liberty Cinema when a man came up to me and said, ‘When I watch your films, my blood pressure comes down.’ That made me feel so good! If you can bring comfort or joy to someone, why not? And with age, I feel even more responsible for the stories I tell.”
Now, Sooraj Barjatya is set to make his OTT debut with his first show, Bada Naam Karenge. He is not only producing the show but will also be serving as its showrunner. He will also be donning the director’s cap very soon for a film which will reportedly feature Ayushmann Khurrana as Prem, an unsually departure from Salman Khan.
