By Hindustan Times
Sooraj Barjatya breaks his silence on his new film.
Welcome back. You’re finally directing another film?
Yes, I’M within the strategy of completing the script and hopefully I WILL BE ABLE TO start soon.
When exactly do you hope to begin your new film?
It all
depends on Salmanbhai’s dates and health. At the moment my primary concern is his condition. All of us want him to recover fully. Phir movies to banti hi rahegi. For now the concern for we all who handle Salmabhai is his health. I’M engaged on a script with a view to hopefully bring out the most efficient in him.
Do tell me slightly in regards to the film.
My script is nearly ready. It is a family film again. With quite a lot of characters. And every character should be written carefully. It is a time-consuming process and that i are not looking for to hurry it.
Would it’s within the tradition of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun? Sooraj Barjatya
Ummmmâ?¦it would convey all of the joys and sorrows of a joint family. It’ll have tears and laughter and naturally celebration. But together it would be slightly different from the family films I’ve made prior to now. The definition of family values has changed in recent times. My film must reflect that change.
Your last film Vivaah came in 2006. Six Years is a very long time to stick clear of filmmaking?
Yes. Over the last few years I took day without work from direction to establish our company’s television branch. That took so much out of my time and energy.
Your fans had begun to despair thinking you would not direct another film.
(Laughs). No, it’s just that I had various activities happening. And i am not a multi-tasker. I normally love to deal with one activity at a time. But here I USED TO BE taking care of the tv business. And because I write my very own films, my script-writing suffered. I’M just not good at doing 2-3 things jointly. But now I MADE UP MY MIND it’s high time I directed another film.
Your last directorial venture Vivah seemed inspired by Bimal Roy’s Sujata?
I kept in mind all of the novels of Saratchandra Chatterjee while making Vivah. But my new film isn’t like Vivah.
Lots of rumours about your next film. Is it called Bade Bhaiyya?
It seems like something I’d call my film (laughs). However it isn’t. I’M within the last stages of scripting. And there is no title yet. I DO NOT know where that came from. I also read I WISHED Arjun Kapoor to play the Bade Bhaiyya ke chote bhaiyya (laughs) . I DO NOT know who my casting director is. But that person has a fertile imagination.
So there is not any Arjun Kapoor in Bade Bhaiyya?
There is not any Bade Bhaiyya only (laughs). Definitely no Arjun. Unless I finish my script there’s no way I WILL approach actors. Nowadays every actor of each generation insists on a script. And forget nowadays I’ve never approached any actor for any film and not using a script.
Abhishek told me you even play the entire songs through the narration.
That’s true. I’M REALLY NOT more likely to change my approach to working. When the casting is announced it might be done in a large way. At the moment there’s no casting except Salman Bhai. I keep reading details about my film. However the truth is, Salmanbhai is all we’ve decided. I’ve taken three years to jot down the script and i’m yet writing. The closure of the script will happen only when a voice from within me says it’s complete.
Salman and also you created history in Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?
(Voice lights up). He’s like my brother. I’ve spoken to him. But I’m yet to relate the script.
No director was in a position to get that innocence out of Salman.
We have a bonding that goes beyond the flicks we do together.
While you took a sabbatical from direction your assistants directed films that appeared like clones of your film.
(Thinks for some time) I DO NOT know why. All those films were made with the proper intentions. But sometimes you fail. I MYSELF enjoyed producing all those films. Success or failure are in no one’s hands. You can still only strive to do one’s best.
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (HAHK) remains your most iconic film. Is that a burden?
No Subhashji It is not like that it is not. as though I had got down to make what you call an iconic filmâ?¦Hum Apke Hain Icon(laughs) â?¦.No film is made with specific intentions. You simply make what comes instinctively to you.
Which among your films is your favourite?
Until I make my next film the former remains my favourite. So these days Vivah is my favourite. Now I WOULD LIKE to inform a unique story in a unique format.
But HAHK had far deeper ramifications?
I agree. From the audiences viewpoint it’s the biggest film of my careerâ?¦I am blessed. Even today 18 years after its release people discuss it wherever I’M GOING. They offer me such a lot love and respect for it.
In fact in Bela Sehgal’s Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi Farah Khan and Boman Irani have done takeoff on Salman and Madhuri Dixit’s ‘Didi Tera Devar’ from HAHK.
(Affectionately) Yes, I saw that. It was really wonderful of Sanjay Bhansali to have given my film this kind of prominence. I COULD NOT ask for more.
