Sooraj Barjatya says he cannot make films about life’s realities as he was ‘born with a golden spoon’: ‘Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, we have not seen hardships of life’

Sooraj Barjatya says he, Karan Johar, and Aditya Chopra have always traveled in cars and were never exposed to life’s tougher realities, giving them the freedom to make films that feel like fairytales.

Sooraj Barjatya talks about the similarities he has with Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar. (Photo: Express Archive)

If you are a Bollywood buff, you would know that the 1990s were largely shaped by three directors: Sooraj Barjatya, Aditya Chopra, and Karan Johar. They ruled the industry with films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Hum Saath-Saath Hain. They also contributed to many other productions from their respective banners, Rajshri Productions, Yash Raj Films, and Dharma Productions. Now, the Hum Aapke Hain Koun director has revealed the one thing they all have in common.

In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Sooraj Barjatya shared, “I think three of us are quite similar at one point. Of course, they are much younger to me, but we are from the same generation.”

Talking about their choice of larger-than-life films, Sooraj explained, “We are born with golden spoons. We have not seen the hardships of life. We also travelled in cars.”

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He added, “But fortunately or unfortunately, when it came to filmmaking, we were passionate about it too. So, we showed the world that was all fairytale. And the ’90s were such that people wanted to watch fairytales. We went with the flow and found ourselves making a particular kind of cinema. I think Adi, Karan, and I wanted to show dreams. If any of us were ever asked to make a film about reality, or to define what life is, I don’t think any of us would be aware of that life.”

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When asked why he didn’t tap into issues like infidelity, action and violence like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra did through their films like Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, and Dhoom, the director shared: “Maybe because I am more conservative.”

He explained, “Maybe it is to do with my upbringing. If you see us individually also, I think we are on the good side of cinema. Given a chance, even Karan would like to do a Rocky Aur Rani today. Maybe it is to do with our age, but essentially we are making family oriented films. But yeah, comparatively, I am the most conservative of them all. I think my strength lies there.”

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Sooraj Barjatya, 61, marked his directorial debut in 1989 with the Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyaar Kiya. Similarly, Aditya Chopra, 54, and Karan Johar, 53, marked their directorial debuts in 1995 and 1998 with their films Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, respectively.

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