Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya has made a name for himself by shaping Salman Khan's beloved character Prem, a role that has become legendary in Indian cinema. Now, he’s shared that he’s busy writing a new script that will bring him back together with Salman. Sooraj teased that this new project will have a more grown-up storyline than their earlier films. In a recent chat online, he discussed his choice to dive into the OTT space with Bada Naam Karenge, which will be available on Sony LIV, and his excitement about collaborating with Salman once more.

Catching up with Salman again

Sooraj first brought Salman into the spotlight as Bollywood's charming lover boy with Maine Pyar Kiya back in 1989. They went on to create some unforgettable moments together in popular films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

When asked about his upcoming project with Salman, Sooraj is quick to respond, “It’s definitely in the works.”

“However, it’s going to take a bit longer because we have to acknowledge that time has passed. I need to craft a new version of Prem that fits his current age. We can’t just keep repeating what we’ve done before. So, it’s taking me some extra time to develop a fresh Prem that still captures the same fun, joy, and family values,” he explains.

Sooraj adds, “But this time, it will be at a more mature level. It’s an experiment that requires a bit more time.”

Diving into the OTT scene

Sooraj is gearing up to dive into the digital world with Rajshri Productions. He’s stepping in as a showrunner for Bada Naam Karenge, a heartwarming story filled with love, laughter, and family vibes. Directed by Palash Vasvani, the series features Ritik Ghanshani as Rishabh and Ayesha Kaduskar as Surbhi. You can catch the show streaming on Sony LIV starting February 7.

Talking about his choice, Sooraj says, “All the credit goes to Sony LIV. Whenever we thought about jumping into this space, we kept hearing that OTT is all about crime and thrillers. People told us our strength lies in family values, and that the OTT platform wasn’t ready for family-oriented content."

“But then the folks at Sony reached out, encouraging us to bring the Hum Saath-Saath Hain audience into this space... I felt so honored and grateful. They gave us complete creative freedom."

This conversation got Sooraj back to brainstorming, digging through various stories.

Set in Ujjain and Ratlam, Bada Naam Karenge delves into themes of self-discovery, relationships, and the strong ties of family. The cast includes Ritik Ghanshani, Ayesha Kaduskar, Kanwaljeet Singh, Alka Amin, Rajesh Jais, Chitrali Lokesh, Deepika Amin, Jameel Khan, and Rajesh Tailang.

The filmmaker explains that the story revolves around a boy and girl from a small town who are on a journey to find their identities. "It’s a genuine love story,” he added.

Exploring the world of OTT platforms

The online world is mostly filled with content that leans heavily on explicit themes like crime, violence, swearing, and adult situations. But Sooraj is committed to sticking to his principles while exploring this landscape.

He explains, “After the pandemic, I noticed a significant change where people are craving family-friendly content. A lot of folks reached out to me saying they’re okay with watching shows on OTT that have bad language... They often asked for my recommendations.”

“I thought it was the perfect moment to introduce something that’s missing. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on unique ideas. Whenever I tried to follow trends, it didn’t work out... We’ve put a lot of heart into this... I’m really proud of what we’ve created,” Sooraj concludes.

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