People are more open in relationships today but the simplicity of love still exists, says filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya

He says stories of love and togetherness, of sentiments and sanskar. After winning the audience with his blockbusters Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain, among others, Sooraj Barjatya is all set to bring his trademark style of storytelling to OTT. He debuts as a showrunner with Bada Naam Karenge, which is all set to premiere on SonyLIV on February 7.

The leading man of Rajshri Productions, Barjatya was open to OTT but on demand always was a racy, crime thriller aimed at urban audiences. ‘The audience is not yet ready for family entertainers,” he was told during multiple meetings with different platforms. When SonyLIV approached him for a ‘Rajshri’ show aimed at family viewership, Barjatya was pleasantly surprised. “Post the pandemic, different generations subscribed to the OTT. And many I met expressed their desire to see something beyond violence and vulgarity, kind of a family entertainment. When Sony approached us to make a show that brings families together, it was very inspiring and exciting.”

Keeping it simple

Bada Naam Karenge is what he calls komalata se bhari hui kahani. It’s about two youngsters from small places, living in Mumbai, trying to fit in while also trying to stay true to who they are. Do the audience get the quintessential hero ‘Prem’ back in Bada Naam Karenge? “To some extent, yes. I always get blamed that my heroes are too politically ‘correct’. I have asked our story writer Manasvi and director Palash Vaswani to take liberty and expand.”

The lead pair comprises newcomers Ritik Ghanshani and Ayesha Kaduskar, who play Rishabh and Surbhi, respectively. They want to make big in this world while also taking the families along. “How these two fall in love and try to balance both the worlds forms the crux of our show,” avers Barjatya.

Ties of love

Love has been the central themes in all his films, and this one is no different. Has the definition of love changed from his very first Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989 to now in 2025 with Bada Naam Karenge? “People are sure more open in relationships today, but that simplicity of love still exists. Prince Charming has stayed, as has the desire to marry someone who has qualities of one’s mother. So many Korean shows today are essentially Mills and Boon stories. So, love has stayed through it all.”

In the times when stories are full of blood and gore, Barjatya wants to stick to his formula. “All kinds of stories should be made—all nav ras. True love exists and these are the stories we want to keep telling.”

He recalls how once when he met his guru Mahesh Bhatt (he assisted him in Saaransh), he was asked about what he was up to. Sooraj told him that they were shooting a scene of juta chupana for Hum Aapke Hain Koun. “He told me, ‘jab tak joote chipate rahoge success milti rahegi’. What he meant was as long as I was true to myself, all would be well.” Barjatya has taken his master’s lesson well.

Good things in the world

Awards, blockbusters, commercial success and now a National Award for his last directorial Uunchai, what does he want next? “Not many youngsters come to watch my films, but those who come bring their bau ji, mamis and buas along. That gives me immense happiness.”

Despite being firm in his beliefs, Barjatya doesn’t want Rajshri to be constricted to his viewpoint only. The reins of business are also being held by his sons Avnish Barjatya and Devaansh Barjatya. Avnish is a director, who helmed Dono recently, while Devaansh heads TV and OTT division. “Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun came decades back and I still get love for those films. On the weekends, the films are still aired on TV. So, I tell my sons Avnish and Devaansh and now that Plash (Vaswani) has joined us, to stick to Rajshri’s core but also feel free to expand. Its 75 years of Rajshri legacy, take it forward.”

Personal note

While we have loved the world Sooraj Barjatya paints, when not working he loves to read Hindi literature. He has just finished the Bhagavad Gita and is into reading the Purans now. He meditates regularly. “Earlier, I would do one film in four to five years, now there are films, TV shows and OTT and the business side as well, so barely get free time,” he shares. Among his most favourite films, he counts Sound of Music as the top. “It’s a lovely family story, a kind of a dream where the ‘right’ wins,” he says. Among his favourite actors, of course, there are Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit. Among directors, he names Raj Kapoor as his favourite. Ask him about a song, and he croons Gadi Bula Rahi Hai from the film Dost. “I believe growing up in Agra and watching trains touched something in my core. Gadi Bual Rahi Hai has stayed with me ever since.”