One of India’s most iconic directors, Sooraj Barjatya, the man behind films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Maine Pyar Kiya , Hum Saath Saath Hai, Vivah and many more —is set to debut in the OTT space with his upcoming show Bada Naam Karenge. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Barjatya discussed his decision to produce and serve as showrunner for the series, while entrusting direction to Palash Vaswani, known for his work on Gullak.
He explained, “Bada Naam Karenge is our first OTT show and we wanted someone who could guide and correct us and Palash is better than me because he has a younger perspective. The position that I’m in today, if I say I want to make Maine Pyaar Kiya again- I can’t make it as you need today’s thoughts.As a director I want to be free so I can make what I want to …and my other thought is that more talent should come to the banner and it is time that Rajshri should evolve but with the same values but beyond my world and my cinema”
Barjatya also reflected on his son Avnish’s directorial debut with Dono, which met with limited success. He expressed pride in Avnish’s autonomy, saying, “I was prepared whichever way; success and failure will happen to everyone and in every field. But the happiest thing for me was that Avnish could make the film he wanted; he took all the decisions himself.” He added, “I wouldn’t have been happy if it would have been a replica of my work.” Barjatya encouraged his son to forge his own path, advising, “Don’t think about what your father has done; you make your own road. Hits and flops will happen, they happened with me also, but the most important thing is your voice.”
He also recalled an important moment from his own past when he was working on his first film Maine Pyar Kiya, he said , ” When I made Maine Pyar Kiya, I was also prepared either way. My father told me hits and flops will come and go , are you prepared for failure ? Do you want to take a chance? And I told him I just want to direct and he said OK!. If you run behind a hit then it will run away from you.”
