The classic film ‘Mughal-e-Azam,’ directed by K. Asif, premiered 64 years ago and remains a monumental achievement in the Hindi film industry. Not only is it celebrated for its grandeur and storytelling, but it also has left an indelible mark on pop culture, with audiences often humming its iconic songs and reminiscing about its memorable characters. Despite the rise of many projects inspired by its narrative, none have achieved the same level of success as ‘Mughal-e-Azam.’
Meanwhile, in 1989, a film produced by Rajshri Productions titled ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was released, which became a massive hit on the silver screen. You might wonder why we are discussing two seemingly different films together. The reason lies in their intriguing connection. Few people realize that the storyline of ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was inspired by ‘Mughal-e-Azam,’ incorporating several twists and fresh elements. Recently, director Sooraj Barjatya revealed this fascinating bit of information. This film marked Barjatya’s directorial debut, and notably, it also launched actor Salman Khan’s career as a lead actor. After its release, ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ garnered substantial acclaim.
Sooraj Barjatya’s Journey in Storytelling
After ‘Maine Pyar Kiya,’ Sooraj Barjatya established himself as a noteworthy director in the industry. Recently, he was honored with the Best Director award at the 70th National Film Awards for his film ‘Uunchai.’ Following this, Barjatya participated in a program organized by the Screen Writers Association, where he shared anecdotes from his first film. He explained that when ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was on the verge of production, Rajshri Productions faced challenges, as none of their films were performing well at the box office. Hence, the production house decided to gamble on ‘Maine Pyar Kiya,’ understanding that if it did not succeed, it could potentially be their last film.
The Concept Behind ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’
Upon agreeing to get started, Rajkumar Barjatya, Sooraj’s father, tasked him with writing the story. At that time, Sooraj had never penned a story before. Rajkumar Barjatya indicated that the narrative would be similar to ‘Mughal-e-Azam,’ featuring characters like Saleem, Anarkali, and Akbar, along with their romantic storyline. Sooraj was initially surprised, questioning how their story could be distinctive when one already existed. To this, his father responded that the story would be shaped by Sooraj’s experiences and reflections on life.
Narrative Inspired by Life Experiences
As a result, Sooraj began writing the story based on his life, while his father provided the structure for it. They decided to make the hero 21 years old, aligning Sooraj’s character with his own age at the time of writing. Notably, he wrote the scene where the protagonist is removed from the house, reminiscent of how Anarkali is ousted. Sooraj emphasized that this would not be a ‘love at first sight’ story and started incorporating real-life characters into the film’s narrative.
Incorporating Emotions and Relationships
Sooraj was adamant about infusing genuine emotions into the film. He expressed that everyone can create a love story, but no one could narrate a tale that they have personally felt. For instance, he compared Reema Lagoo’s portrayal of the mother character to his own mother, and the character of Suman was inspired by a girl he had a crush on during his youth.
Discussing the support he received from his father during the film’s creation, Sooraj mentioned, “Having the freedom to write without restrictions is a tremendous privilege, and my father encouraged me to do just that.” He passionately narrated how he kept weaving in his feelings into the story, resulting in a movie that resonated emotionally with the audience.
