Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, who has brought diverse stories of love and family to life in films ranging from "Maine Pyar Kiya" to "Hum Aapke Hain Koun," is now bringing the web show "Marble." He is the producer of this web show, which will premiere on Jio Hotstar on February 26th. We discuss his show and professional journey with Sooraj, who is also producing the film "Yeh Prem Mol Liya" with Ayushmann Khurrana:

Like the heroine of this web show, have you ever had to choose between personal and professional life?

Such moments arise in everyone's life. We all have to choose our priorities at some point. On one hand, there's your family, on the other, your career, and on the third, your decisions. As filmmakers, when we take on a project for two to two and a half years, the world of that film becomes real, and everything else becomes alien.

This has happened to me. The heroines, Amrita and Aditya, also have to choose between love and duty. This is a story of gender equality.

Some people are claiming this show is inspired by the film Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi...
The story of this show isn't like that. There are seven or eight different stories around us. Somewhere in them, many lives seem to revolve around the same circle. The show offers a new perspective; it's a contemporary story, spanning from 1988 to 2026. None of our films has had such a story.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, it was said that only grand films would be released on the big screen. Didn't questions arise in your mind about romantic and family drama films?

With changing times, such questions arise. I tried some new experiments to adapt to the times, but they weren't successful. Ultimately, I realized that it's important to keep an eye on where the world is going, but it's also important to be clear about what you want to create.

How important are family stories on the big screen, and what's the biggest challenge in making them?
I have the freedom to make projects of my choice, so I don't worry about trends, but entertainment is essential in family stories. Audiences don't accept monotony. There are so many options today, so I want more family and love stories that bring people together. The biggest challenge is connecting with audiences emotionally. Making them laugh or cry is true success.

Your hero's name has always been Prem. Did it start with Maine Pyar Kiya, or was the role conceived before that?
While writing the script for Maine Pyar Kiya, we came up with several names for the hero. In the hit film Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, produced by my grandfather (Tarachand Barjatya), the hero's name was Prem, and the actor was Prem Kishan. I also named the hero Prem in the hope that it might bring some good luck. That's where the name Prem originated.

Has there been a film that didn't live up to expectations?
The beautiful thing about our profession is that no one can predict which character or part the audience will like. In my 40-year career, I've often thought a particular scene or song would be a hit, but the audience liked something else. The film that was expected to be a hit didn't, and another one did. So, all we have to do is give it our best. Be honest and diligent in your work. That's what's most important.

The heroines in your films have always been strong and outspoken. Where did you get the inspiration for this?
I never wrote with the expectation that my heroine would be very strong. All Rajshri Productions stories are based on Indian culture. When you talk about Indian women, power comes naturally. That power makes us feel that our home and family are in safe hands.

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