Sooraj Barjatya says he is working on family dramas for OTT; shares details about film with Salman Khan

Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya says he is set to venture into the digital space soon with at least three web series under development at his family banner Rajshri Productions.
These projects will focus on family-friendly entertainment, a genre championed the production house through films such as  Nadiya Ke Paar (1982), Saaransh (1984), Salman Khan-starrers Hum Aapke Hain Kaun(1994) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999).
Sooraj Barjatya said he was inundated with many offers from leading streamers during the coronavirus pandemic to explore the digital medium. ”We have been offered to make Rajshri kind of stories all platforms. After the pandemic, families have come together. I am surprised and happy. We are in the process of starting three-four series soon.
”It is in our space (family entertainers). Some are in the scripting stage, others are in the ideation stage. We will look at all of this post the release of Unnchai,” the 58-year-old director told PTI in an interview here.
Back in 2017, Sooraj Barjatya had said the production house was toying with the idea of making content for the web. Rajshri has already produced many successful TV shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki and Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara.
Currently, the filmmaker is looking forward to the release of his upcoming feature Unnchai, a drama about four friends, played Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani and Danny Denzongpa. Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, and Sarika also round out the cast of the film, slated to be released on November 11.

Post Unnchai, Sooraj Barjatya said he will focus on a string of projects, including a web series, a movie with his frequent collaborator and friend Salman Khan, and his son Avnish Barjatya’s directorial debut.
With Avnish’s movie, the filmmaker will launch actor-MP Sunny Deol’s younger son Rajveer and actor Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. ”After Unnchai, I will get busy with my younger son Avnish’s movie, starring Rajveer and Paloma. As a producer, it is a big responsibility. After that, I will start my film with Salman bhai. It is in the family space,” he added.
Sooraj Barjatya shared that it is Salman Khan who often encourages him to make family-oriented movies. ”He says ‘I do my action everywhere but we will do family (dramas) together. He always encourages me to go back to what we do. He is like let’s do the same thing… Like having a brother, ser and family because no one does that today.
”He says, ‘Let’s go back to these (films)’. Essentially, it is a part of his life and even mine. Besides, both of us want to spend more time together,” he said.
Sooraj Barjatya’s last directorial was the 2015 film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, starring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in the lead roles.