Adi Chopra Praised HAHK when Industry Declared it a Disaster – Sooraj Barjatya
The Romantics, a series on the history of Yash Raj Films (YRF), which looks at the memorable films made by Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra, was released on Netflix. The show is much awaited as it features the first ever video interview of the reclusive Aditya Chopra. The YRF head appears in the series from the second episode. It also speaks about the early 90s and makes a special mention of the much-loved and the blockbuster film Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), directed by Sooraj Barjatya. The humble Sooraj Bajratya shares his views about Aditya and why he holds him in great regard.
Sooraj Bajatya started by saying, “My first memory of Adi is clearly during the screening of Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). He was a very shy boy, only 17 years old and he stood outside the theatre. He just had a grinning smile; that’s all! That time I did not know that he’s Yash ji’s son.” Starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree, Maine Pyar Kiya was the directorial debut of Sooraj Barjatya. Sooraj then made Hum Aapke Hain Koun, starring Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Mohnish Bahl and Renuka Shahane. Though it has an insane fan following even today, it’s common knowledge that that the reaction of the film industry during the premiere was very poor. Sooraj Barjatya said, “We had a show (for the industry) at Liberty. That show was a disaster!”
He then added that when he returned disheartened from the premiere, the first call he got was from Aditya Chopra. Sooraj said, “Adi told me, ‘Sooraj, it’s a damn good film. Don’t worry’.” When Sooraj told him to see how the whole industry has reacted, Aditya maintained that he shouldn’t take a stress. However, he gave a suggestion: “Cut two and a half songs from the film and it will fly!”
Sooraj Barjatya, at this point confessed that even he had the same feeling about those songs since five months. Aditya Chopra’s feedback prompted him to cut the songs out of the film the very next day. “That is one of the first memories I have of the greatness of Aditya Chopra,” said Sooraj Barjatya.