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Sooraj Barjatya: Family values will always be important

Sooraj Barjatya talks about his latest production, Hum Chaar and staying true to his banner’s belief

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Sooraj Barjatya, The cast of Hum Chaar
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With his quiet demeanour and soft-spoken nature, Sooraj Barjatya in a way epitomises the values that his movies espouse. The filmmaker, who has given cinegoers blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Vivah (2006) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), is known for making clean, family entertainers that cater to audiences of all ages. The 54-year-old, who has played an instrumental role in taking Rajshri Productions to the masses and classes alike, talks to us about being a creative producer for Hum Chaar, mentoring his younger son, Avnish, who will soon make his directorial debut and helming movies that he believes in...

Hum Chaar is a different take on friendship

My last production was Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP) in 2015. My films are family fare and I know my audience is 35-plus. For a while, I was thinking about making a movie where we could talk a bit about our values. But the language had to be different from mine.

Abhishek Dixit, who has been a creative director in marketing, came to me with the concept about how today, friends are more like family. These are the people who come in to stand by you. I asked him what made him think so. He wondered how many people spend time with their parents on birthdays, anniversaries… Not many of them. We’re at work and indifferent, so we celebrate by ourselves… Then he explained that in his family too, he can’t call up anyone anytime to discuss his problems or share something. If his bhabhi is busy, he has to ask her to make time for him… There is aupcharikta (a certain formality) now.

Also, when I look at my kids and nephews jo Gwalior se Mumbai aaye hain... Their parents are worried, ki inke dost kaise hain, whether they are drinking and partying. So, they are judging... but these boys say, when we lose our mobiles, these are the guys (our pals) who come with us to the police station. So, if we are not judging chacha, chachi, etc, why are you judging our friends? When you see this, you feel this is a nice subject to make a movie on. Abhishek has done it in his own way. I’m looking forward to this film.

It’s a story of pure friendship, but told in a different way. I was involved as a creative producer throughout, because I wanted the correct launch for Abhishek and the actors. Also, I was keen that I wanted one film that doesn’t have my trademark style. I was certain that the director should not follow my way. He wanted some of the old songs, but I asked him to retain his own language.


(Maine Pyar Kiya; Hum Saath-Saath Hain; Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!; Prem Ratan Dhan Payo; Vivah; Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon)

Taking the tradition forward 

I was supposed to start my film with Salman (Khan) and I had spoken to him, too. But my younger son Avnish, who wanted to pursue CA (chartered accountancy), gave it up. He told me he wanted to become a filmmaker and assisted me on Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (PRDP). Since the last one year, he has been working on the script and this month, we’ll lock it.

The love story is a bit complicated; that’s his zone, it’s his choice. Like my father allowed me to make films my way, I’m guiding Avnish, in case he requires anything from me, I’m always there for him.

I’m happy that both Avnish and Abhishek have kept the sur of Rajshri Productions because anyone going to see our film will be satisfied with it, that’s important for us.

I told Salman that once it’s done, I will start working on our film. That’s why there’s been some delay. But, it’s also after 30 years that we have another director from our family. So, it’s a big moment for me, for us.  

I just realised that I’m more nervous this time than when I was starting my journey.


(Sooraj Barjatya, The filmmaker with his frequent collaborator Salman Khan)

‘I must make what I believe in’

The family values remain the same, they will always be important. I made Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003), where I tried to do something different. Then I realised that you should make what you are, irrespective of what the market says. You create your film, ussi sur mein you experiment. You don’t need to ask anyone else what to make and how to do it. That’s for the next generation. I must make what I believe in and I will find my audience.  

For example, PRDP is a huge hit in the Hindi belt and even on TV as it represents Bharat. In fact, all my films cater more to Bharat than India (the metros). So, I’m happy in my zone and I must be at peace. With age, I feel more responsible about how to tell these stories in an entertaining way because it’s important.

When our film releases, people say ki dadi ko dikhana hai, dada ko dikhana hai etc... The younger generation comes with that idea because they feel that they must show it to their grandparents. Even with PRDP, it felt nice to see old people coming to watch a movie, trusting that it’s a family film. It had its core values.

I told Avnish that this should be there in his film too, in his own way and space.

Hum Chaar caters to Bharat’s youth

I hope this film reaches everywhere. It’s a youthful Bharat because the director has stayed in Lucknow, Kanpur and Noida. I told him to make this film the way he led his life because that is what I trust. I told him not to worry about what works or sells but to keep the humour because he has a good sense of humour and he, himself, is a writer. If it caters to India, it is good; but, otherwise, it will surely cater to the youth of Bharat.

These are not the times to aim for certain things like how we did during Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (HAHK, 1994) when it was like let’s make a number one hit. Having said that, I didn’t make it thinking like that, but it did become a huge hit. It’s going to be 25 years since HAHK, but I haven’t planned anything yet.

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