Wanted To Make A Film That Father Can Be Proud Of, Says Avnish Barjatya

MUMBAI, (IANS) – Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya‘s son Avnish Barjatya, who is geared up for the release of his directorial debut ‘Dono’, spoke about how his father told him to make a film that he believes in.

‘Dono’ marks the debut of actors Rajveer Deol and Paloma. Rajveer is the younger son of Sunny Deol, while Paloma is the daughter of Poonam Dhillon.

Avnish said, “It was not like we started off with a genre in mind. My father just said make a film that you believe in. Make a film about something that you want to say. This topic about ‘closure’ is something new in this genre. I knew I wanted to make a film about the relationship of two people who meet at one destination, two strangers—so this is something that just happened, nothing particular about it,” he said.

Talking about the responsibility he had on his shoulders as being a part of the Rajshri family, Avnish shared, “I had the responsibility that we make a film that can belong in the Rajshri legacy–that my father can be proud of, my seniors at Rajshri can be proud of, and at the same time make a film that has a distinct voice.”

“Rajshri has always made films that have said something distinctly. So that was something I had to keep in mind,” he said.

Avnish further said that everything that he has learned is that from his father.

He had assisted Sooraj Barjatya in projects like ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, etc.

“I had assisted under him, so technically I have learned from him. But the most important thing that I feel I would like to take from him is his work ethics,” said Avnish.

He said that he feels very lucky to work with him in ‘Uunchai’. “My father would climb the highest of the mountains just to get one single shot. He could have just told me or others to take the shot, but that desire to get everything right, the desire to push every member of the team and unit to do what’s best for the film–I think that’s something I really hope to take from him, and I really try to put that into practice,” he said.

Avnish added: “If after 35 plus years of experience, wisdom, and success, if my father can do that then I have to absolutely do that–Push and work hard as we can.”