Sooraj Barjatya reveals his mother’s fear made him tie the knot at the age of 21: ‘Her condition was, before becoming a director…’

Renowned director Sooraj Barjatya, known for larger-than-life romantic films loved by youth and family alike, such as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Maine Pyaar Kiya, tied the knot at the age of 21. Recently, during an appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show, the veteran director revealed why he married so early. In a teaser released by Kapil Sharma, the director was gently teased about why his movies are never complete without a grand Big Fat Indian wedding. Ayushmann Khurrana, who is starring in his upcoming film Yeh Prem Mol Liya, quipped, “He got married at the age of 21. Now ask him if these wedding movies come from a place of trauma, love, or what.”

The director explained that his mother was worried he’d fall for an actress when he expressed a desire to become a filmmaker. For the unversed, Barjatya is from a Marwari Jain family based in Mumbai. So she insisted he get married before becoming a director.

“I said I wanted to direct; my mother was worried I’d fall in love with some actress. So her condition was that before becoming a director, I get married,” he quipped.


Sooraj made his first film, Maine Pyaar Kiya, which starred Salman Khan and Bhagyashree at the age of 24. The movie became a blockbuster and made Salman an overnight star. Salman became a feature of Bajatya movies and starred in two more of the director’s films – Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, all of which made history at the box office. Sooraj married his wife, Vineeta, in 1986, and the couple has three children.

The teaser also offers a light-hearted interaction between Kapil Sharma and Sharvari. The actress, who has previously appeared in action-packed projects such as Bunty Aur Babli 2, Munjya and Alpha, is asked whether collaborating with Sooraj Barjatya felt like a refreshing detox after playing characters involved in high-octane action and thievery.

About Ye Prem Mol Liya

The romantic drama marks the director’s comeback to films after the 2022 film Uunchai. The family film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari Wagh in lead roles.

The film features a talented supporting ensemble comprising Anupam Kher, Seema Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Saumya Tandon and Swanand Kirkire. Produced by Rajshri Productions in collaboration with Mahaveer Jain Films, the project has a musical score by Himesh Reshammiya.

The film also marks Sooraj Barjatya and Himesh’s reunion, nearly a decade after they worked together on Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), which featured Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor in the lead roles.

Khurrana recalled how, even though he steered clear of traditions such as wearing a sehra and riding a horse during his own wedding to Tahira Kashyap, he had to do it in the movie. He joked that the filmmaker made him do everything he had refused to do in real life for Yeh Prem Mol Liya.

Yeh Prem Mol Liya hits the big screens in November 27.