Sooraj Barjatya says he 'shouted and yelled' at Bhagyashree, made the Maine Pyar Kiya actor cry: 'Then I realised work happens amid love, calmness'

Sooraj Barjatya recently explained the long gaps between his films, revealing that he is extremely meticulous and personally approves everything before shooting begins.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | Updated: February 11, 2025 11:34 AM IST

4 min read

sooraj barjatya says he made bhagyashree cry

Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya kick started his career as a director back in 1989 with the film Maine Pyar Kiya. Over the years, he delivered hits such as Hum Saath Saath Hain, Hum Apke Hain Koun, and Vivah, among others. In a career spanning 35 years, the filmmaker has made only seven movies including his only flop, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. In a recent interview, the filmmaker explained the long gaps between his films, revealing that he is extremely meticulous and personally approves everything before shooting begins.

In a new interview with Komal Nahta on his YouTube channel Game Changers, Barjatya shared he was very rude and short-tempered when he began his career. However, over time, he learnt to stay humble. The filmmaker said, “When I started my career, I have made a lot of heroines cry. You can ask Bhagyashree. I used to yell and shout. Then I realised work happens where there is love and calmness. But I prepare a lot. I read my narrations at least 200 times to myself. I want to see every costume, I want to see every property. I want to be thoroughly prepared with everything I do. This is why it takes me five years, because for me when we are on set, I just want to create and not correct.”

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He added, “As a director, I am very selfish because I don’t want to start until I am ready. This has been my thing even when I first started. When you see Raj Kapoor films: Sangam, Bobby, the way you get lost in those films, for that you need to do a lot of preparation. There I don’t see numbers. When you will see the numbers, you will call me an idiot. As a director, I don’t listen to anybody. I am there for each and every dialogue. I don’t even listen to any choreographer. I need everything in written form. I am not a visual director like Sanjay Leela Bhansali; he is a master. I am nothing like Mani Ratnam either. I am essentially a storyteller, so I don’t think visual. Mine is more story oriented. I give a lot of importance to every picturisation in the film. For every creative choice, I have to be there. So it takes me a lot of time.”

The filmmaker, who last made Uunchai, shared that he is, however, working on himself to make a new film every three years.

Speaking about other directors who have a habit of writing the script on set, Sooraj Barjatya said, “I salute the directors who write on spot on set. I can never do that. I am very particular about things. I feel jittery if anybody changes anything from what has been decided. The thing with me is I always work with a huge star cast. I always have about 40 actors. So I am very particular about what every character is doing.”

He added, “When I was an assistant I used to see they randomly used to give some stale paper to the actors if they are shooting a breakfast scene. I don’t do that. I am very particular about things; this is why I don’t give a lot of freedom to my actors.”

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