Director Sooraj Barjatya reacted to parallels drawn between his protagonists and the hypermasculine portrayal of men in films like Animal and Kabir Singh. He said that the characters in the latter films, just as the heroes of his hits, are “representations of the same men”.
The protagonists in Barjatya’s cinema have often replaced traditional masculinity with a more tender form of romance. Prem from Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (both played by Salman Khan) was prepared to surrender his own desires for the sake of his family. Similarly, Prem in Vivah (Shahid Kapoor) stood firmly by his commitment even after his fiancee suffered a tragic accident. However, the massive popularity of films like Kabir Singh and the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal has sparked a debate over whether modern viewers still connect with a character like Barjatya’s Prem. Barjatya, in an interview with Hindustan Times, emphasised that these characters are not necessarily in conflict.
He said, “They are representations of the same men. Itna pyaar to kare koi (Someone must love this passionately). If you look at it, whether it is Kabir Singh, Animal, Prem, or the protagonist from Sangamarmar (Barjatya’s new JioHotstar show), but itna pyaar to kare (that kind of love should be there).”
“All of them have come through the journeys of their soul. They have their own upbringing and values. But essentially, it is the power of love. I feel they are two sides of the same coin,” the director added.
Barjatya’s next family entertainer will feature Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari in lead roles. The film is a collaboration between Rajshri Productions, Mahaveer Jain Films, and Anita Gurnani, as reported by Pinkvilla.
The director had last helmed Uunchai (2022), featuring actors Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta and Sarika in crucial roles.
