Sooraj Barjatya Admits He, Aditya Chopra And Karan Johar ‘Were Born With Golden Spoons'

News18

5 days ago

Sooraj Barjatya says he, Karan Johar, and Aditya Chopra were 'born with golden spoons' and make fairytale cinema.
Sooraj Barjatya, the man who defined the quintessential family entertainer in Indian cinema with classics like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), and Vivah (2006), is known for crafting films steeped in tradition, wholesomeness, and moral clarity. Now, in a candid conversation with Bollywood Hungama, the celebrated filmmaker has opened up about his privileged background, his creative lens, and how he compares himself to contemporaries like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra.
When asked about the similarity between his school of cinema and that of the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham makers, Barjatya didn't shy away from acknowledging the privilege that shaped them all.
'We are the ones who were born with golden spoons. Humne zindagi ke jhatkon ko experience nahi kiya hai zyada. Hamesha gaadiyon mein ghoomein hain. But fortunately or unfortunately, jab hamara daur aaya, we were passionate about filmmaking. Hum logon ne vo duniya dikhayi jo fairytale hai, aur vo 90s ka daur aisa tha ki audience dekhna chahti thi fairytales. Toh uss bahaav mein hum beh gaye — and we are into a particular kind of cinema(We haven't really experienced the hardships of life. We've always travelled in cars. But fortunately or unfortunately, when our time came, we were passionate about filmmaking. We showed the kind of world that was a fairytale, and the 90s were an era when the audience wanted to see fairytales. So we went with that flow — and that's how we got into a particular kind of cinema)," he reflected.
While his peers have occasionally ventured into darker or more complex storytelling—Karan Johar with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, Aditya Chopra with Dhoom and Befikre—Barjatya has consistently steered clear of subjects like crime, infidelity, or moral ambiguity.
Explaining this conscious choice, he said:
> 'Out of us three, I am the most conservative one. Maybe it has to do with my upbringing. If you look at us, individually, we are all on the good side of cinema. Karan would like to make Rocky Rani; maybe it has to do with our age, but mostly, we want to make family films. But yes, comparatively, I am more conservative. I think there lies my strength."
That conservatism is once again evident in his latest project — the television series Manpasand Ki Shaadi. Produced under the Rajshri Productions banner, the show promises a return to Barjatya's signature storytelling: rooted in Indian traditions, values, and the sanctity of relationships. It follows the journey of young individuals navigating the delicate balance between love and arranged marriages in today's evolving social landscape.
Manpasand Ki Shaadi will premiere on Colours TV on August 11, bringing with it the warmth, idealism, and emotional depth that have become synonymous with the Sooraj Barjatya name.
First Published:
August 08, 2025, 19:09 IST
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