Salman back in rajshri

Director Sooraj Barjatya recently performed a thanksgiving pooja with actors Reena Kapoor and Aamir Ali as Rajshri Productions's TV show 'Woh Rehnewali Mehlon Ki' (Sahara One) completed 500 episodes. The function was held at the Juhu Hare Krishna temple.

Sooraj, who after the hit 'Vivah', was supposed to have started his next movie with 'lucky mascot' Salman Khan has now decided otherwise. The unassuming Sooraj will be launching three new films but none of them will be directed by him.

Explaining his self-imposed sabbatical from direction, Sooraj says, "This decision will give me the creative freedom to monitor my upcoming films and two new TV ventures. Kaushik Ghatak (director of the show 'Woh Rehne Wali…' will be directing one of the movies. My sister Kavita (Barjatya), who heads the TV division and I felt that Kaushik has the potential." The cast of the film is still being finalised.

But why has he stalled the project with Salman? "Considering Salman's age and status I am still hunting for the right kind of subject that fulfils audience expectations. It should crystallise hopefully by next year. Had Salman been younger I would have cast him in 'Vivah'," he confides.

Is it true that he was planning to deviate from his traditional values and dabble in films on extramarital and live-in relationships? "No way! I earned enough flak for showing western values in 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon'. I can't make a movie glorifying live-in relationships, just because arranged marriages sound boring. The response to 'Vivah' is enough for me not to change tracks. In fact, girls have written saying that they are willing to get 'burnt' if they can find a boy like my hero Shahid Kapur," he laughs.

Sooraj is an ardent fan of the late showman Raj Kapoor. "Watching Raj saab's films is like completing a course in film direction. He is my guru. It's only after he blessed me at my wedding did I plunge into direction," recalls Sooraj who is also initiating his young college going son Devaansh into the tricks of the tinsel trade.