Diana to star opposite Salman next - Page 3

Sooraj Barjatya breaks his silence on his new film.

Welcome back. You're finally directing another film?
Yes, I am in the process of completing the script and hopefully I will start soon.

When exactly do you hope to start your new film?
It all depends on Salmanbhai's dates and health. Right now my primary concern is his condition. We all want him to recover fully. Phir movies to banti hi rahegi. For now the priority for all of us who care for Salmabhai is his health. I am working on a script that will hopefully bring out the best in him.

Do tell me a bit about the film.
My script is almost ready. It's a family film again. With lots of characters. And each character has to be written carefully. It's a time-consuming process and I don't want to rush it.

Would it be in the tradition of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?
Ummm…it would convey all the joys and sorrows of a joint family. It will have tears and laughter and of course celebration. But at the same time it'd be a little different from the family films I've made in the past. The definition of family values has changed in recent years. My film would have to reflect that change.

Your last film Vivaah came in 2006. Six Years is a long time to stay away from filmmaking?
Yes. During the last few years I took time off from direction to set up our company's television branch. That took a lot out of my time and energy.

Your fans had begun to despair thinking you wouldn't direct another film.
(Laughs). No, it's just that I had a number of activities happening. And I'm not a multi-tasker. I normally like to focus on one activity at a time. But here I was looking after the television business. And since I write my own films, my script-writing suffered. I am just not good at doing 2-3 things at the same time. But now I decided it's high time I directed another film.

Your last directorial venture Vivah seemed inspired by Bimal Roy's Sujata?
I kept in mind all the novels of Saratchandra Chatterjee while making Vivah. But my new film is not likeVivah.

Lots of rumours about your next film. Is it called Bade Bhaiyya?
It sounds like something I'd call my film (laughs). But it isn't. I am in the last stages of scripting. And there's no title yet. I don't know where that came from. I also read I wanted Arjun Kapoor to play theBade Bhaiyya ke chote bhaiyya (laughs) . I don't know who my casting director is. But that person has a fertile imagination.

So there is no Arjun Kapoor in Bade Bhaiyya?
There is no Bade Bhaiyya only (laughs). Definitely no Arjun. Unless I finish my script there is no way I can approach actors. Nowadays every actor of every generation insists on a script. And forget nowadays I've never approached any actor for any film without a script.