Sooraj Barjatya Fights Family, Gets Salman Khan Back To Rajshri Banner as his Favourite Prem

Ajab ‘Prem’ ki gazab kahaani: Sooraj Barjatya beats the odds, fights family to get Salman back into the Rajshri banner as his favourite Prem

Salman Khan

Salman’s ‘Prem’ has won Sooraj Barjatya’s heart yet again (get the Maine Pyar Kiya reference?). The film went on to make box-office history. And now, Sooraj is planning to return to directing films after four years.

Recently, it was reported that Salman will be seen in Sooraj’s next, in a cameo role. The latest development in that story is that the actor will be playing the lead in another film apart from this one. Sooraj plans to direct the second one next year some time.

Sooraj Barjatya.

It is said that the male lead in his last film Vivah was written keeping Salman Khan in mind. It had to be played by Shahid Kapoor because Sooraj’s father, Raj Kumar Barjatya, opposed the idea of Sallu playing the lead, because of the blackbuck-killing incident in Jodhpur. He in fact instructed Sooraj to part ways with Salman professionally and personally.

His father’s decision came as a big blow to Sooraj, who was a very good friend of Salman’s at the time. But the obedient son did not go against his father’s wishes. Though reluctantly, Sooraj signed Hrithik Roshan for Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, another role he had planned for Salman, and then Shahid Kapoor for Vivah. So traumatised was he with these decisions that Sooraj decided not to direct any more films after that, until the rift with Salman was bridged. Sooraj seems to have mustered the strength now, to try and address the Salman issue with his father. The first step towards reconciliation is the cameo that Sooraj has offered Salman in the Rajshri production Love You Mr Kalaakar.

Says a very close associate to Sooraj, “Everyone at Rajshri had presumed that Soorajji would never direct another film. Without Salman Soorajji’s heart was just not in it. They were like brothers. Salman was the only non-family male member who could move freely in and out of the Rajshri household. The black buck incident changed everything.”

But all is not lost. Commenting on Sooraj’s recent decision, the family friend says, “Though Soorajji, who never goes against his father’s wishes, quietly complied, he had been missing Salman.” While Sooraj Barjatya remained unavailable for comment his sister Kavita said, “I am not aware what his plans are. But if Sooraj does start a new film it will surely be starring him (Salman). The whole family wants him to return to direction.” Cheers to new beginnings!