Karan, Aditya & I Born with Golden Spoons, Sell Fairytale: Sooraj
The film industry is often touted as a land of dreams, where individuals from humble beginnings can rise to fame and fortune with hard work and dedication. However, not everyone’s journey is marked by struggles and hardships. In an recent interview, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya revealed that he, along with fellow filmmakers Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, were born with golden spoons and have not experienced the same level of hardship as others.
“We have always travelled in cars,” Sooraj Barjatya stated, highlighting the privilege that comes with being a part of the film industry’s elite. “We showed the kind of world that was a fairytale, and the 90s were an era when the audience wanted to see fairytales.”
Barjatya’s comments come as a stark contrast to the struggles faced by many aspiring filmmakers, who have to work multiple jobs and face numerous rejections before achieving success. The filmmaker’s statement has sparked a debate on the privilege that comes with being a part of the Bollywood elite, and whether it’s fair to expect others to empathize with their struggles when they have not had to face similar hardships.
Born into a family of filmmakers, Sooraj Barjatya’s entry into the industry was almost seamless. His father, Rajkumar Barjatya, was a successful filmmaker in his own right, and Sooraj grew up watching his father work on film sets. This exposure, combined with his own natural talent, helped him to develop a passion for filmmaking from a young age.
Similarly, Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra were born into families that were already established in the film industry. Karan Johar’s father, Yash Johar, was a successful producer, and Aditya Chopra’s father, Yash Chopra, was one of the most iconic directors in Indian cinema. This family background, combined with their own hard work and dedication, helped them to achieve success in the industry.
However, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Many aspiring filmmakers have to work multiple jobs and face numerous rejections before achieving success. They have to struggle to make ends meet, and often have to take on menial tasks just to survive. Is it fair to expect these individuals to empathize with the struggles of Bollywood’s elite when they have not had to face similar hardships?
Sooraj Barjatya’s statement is not just about the privilege that comes with being a part of the film industry’s elite, but also about the kind of stories that they tell. The 90s, as Barjatya mentioned, were an era when the audience wanted to see fairytales. The Bollywood films of that era were often romantic, melodramatic, and escapist, with a focus on grand sets, elaborate song and dance sequences, and a happy ending. These films were meant to transport audiences to a world of fantasy and magic, where the harsh realities of life were temporarily forgotten.
In contrast, the films made by the struggling filmmakers who don’t have the same level of privilege may not have the same level of production values or grandeur. They may not have the same kind of resources or access to talent, and their films may not have the same level of commercial success. However, these films may still tell important stories, stories that are relevant to the audience and that resonate with their everyday lives.
Sooraj Barjatya’s statement has sparked a debate on the privilege that comes with being a part of the film industry’s elite, and whether it’s fair to expect others to empathize with their struggles when they have not had to face similar hardships. While it’s true that the Bollywood elite have had a certain level of privilege, it’s also important to remember that their success is not just due to their family background, but also due to their own hard work and dedication.
In the end, the stories that we tell, whether they are fairytales or gritty realities, are what matter most. They are what transport us to another world, what make us laugh, cry, and feel. And it’s up to each individual filmmaker, regardless of their background or level of privilege, to tell the stories that they feel are important, and to share them with the world.
