Family and values are at the core of Sooraj Barjatya's films but the director says he is exploring a slightly darker world in Salman Khan-Sonam Kapoor starrer "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo".
"There is a whole royal feel to the movie. My films are always about values and traditions but I am telling this story in a more contemporary way.
"There is a brother in rage and a sister in turmoil. There is another brother who says if this is the family then everyone is better off without one. The characters are more real. It is more grey. The society is always evolving, this is my attempt to show what is happening around me," Barjatya told PTI in an interview.
When asked about claims that the film has a feel of '90s, Barjatya said he is from that era so his films are bound to reflect what he believes in.
"That's how I am and that's the kind of films I would like to make. Why should make something I don't believe in? I have great actors in Swara Bhaskar, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepak Dobriyal. They are today's actors and are very entertaining. It is a combination of old and new and I prefer it that way."
The director, who gave Salman a great debut as a lead hero in Maine Pyar Kiya's Prem and subsequently collaborated with him on "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" and "Hum Saath-Saath Hain", says his biggest motivation behind making this story was to see the superstar back in 'Prem' avatar.
"Both of us started together. When two people begin their career together and have seen the highs and lows, their bond is deeper. Even today, we are director-actor only in the credits. We don't judge each other. We had the same vision for 'Prem Ratan...'."
The director is confident that Salman's larger-than-life persona will help carry the message of film, which released today, to a wider audience.
"There was this great attraction to make one more film with Salman because he knows me as a director. Me and my father developed this concept while waiting for Madhuri's (Dixit) dates for 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun?'. In 2011, I decided to develop that story further.
"I wanted to see Salman in a family film once again. He has such a powerful connect with the audience that he can actually change lives. He can show people that unconditional love is the way to live. It is a coincidence that our story begins on dussehra and ends on bhai dooj and we are releasing it on Diwali."
Talking his lead actress, Sonam, Barjatya says he owes her casting to Aanand L Rai's "Raanjhanaa".
"There were many other actresses we were considering for the part. But then I saw 'Raanjhanaa' and I loved the Indian-ness and purity that Sonam portrayed in the film. Her image stayed in my mind."
The director denied that the film is a remake of "Raja Aur Runk", a 1968 movie that Rajshri distributed.
