Movie theater Sooraj Barjatya says he is set to enter the digital space soon with at least three web series under development under his family banner Rajshri Productions.
These projects will focus on family-friendly entertainment, a genre championed by the production house through films like Nadiya Ke Paar (1982), Saaransh (1984), Salman Khan-starred in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999).
Sooraj Barjatya said he was inundated with many offers from top streamers during his time coronavirus pandemic to explore the digital medium. “All platforms have offered us to do Rajshri-type stories. After the pandemic, families have come together. I am surprised and happy. We are in the process of launching series of three-four soon.
“They are in our place (family entertainers). Some are in the script stage, others in the ideation stage. We will look at all this post the release of Unnchai,” the 58-year-old director told PTI in an interview here.
In 2017, Sooraj Barjatya had said that the production house was toying with the idea of creating content for the web. Rajshri has already produced many hit TV shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki and Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara.
The director is currently looking forward to the release of his upcoming film Unnchai, a drama about four friends, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam KherBoman Irani and Danny Denzongpa. Parineeti ChopraNeena Gupta and Sarika also complete the cast of the film, which is slated to release on November 11.
Post Unnchai, Sooraj Barjatya said he will focus on a number of projects including a web series, a film with his frequent collaborator and friend Salman Khan and his son Avnish Barjatya’s directorial debut.
With Avnish’s film, the director will launch the actor-MP Sunny DeolRajveer’s younger son and actress Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. “After Unnchai, I will tackle my younger son Avnish’s film starring Rajveer and Paloma. As a producer, it’s a big responsibility. After that I will start my film with Salman bhai. It’s in the family area,” he added.
Sooraj Barjatya shared that it is Salman Khan who often encourages him to do family films. He says “I do my act everywhere, but we will do family (dramas) together. It always encourages me to get back to what we’re doing. It’s like we do the same thing… Like we have a brother, sister and family because nobody does that today.
“He says, ‘Let’s get back to these (films).’ In fact, it is part of his life and even mine. Besides, we both want to spend more time together,” he said.
Sooraj Barjatya’s last directorial venture was the 2015 film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, starring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in the lead roles.
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