Even after 20 years, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya feels he didn’t do justice to Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003). Starring Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan, the film received criticism for its over-the-top performances, exaggerated screenplay, and departure from the classic Rajshri Productions style.
Sooraj Barjatya On Why The Film Didn’t Work
In a video shared by Rajshri Productions’ YouTube channel, Barjatya reflected on the film’s failure. He admitted, “I think I failed to capture the simplicity of the original Chitchor, on which MPKDH was based. Though we enjoyed making it, I couldn’t retain the honesty of the original story.”
He echoed a similar sentiment in an interview with Digital Commentary, saying, “Whenever I thought about what works, I failed. Honestly, if I were to fix it, I would have made a much simpler film. Its simplicity got lost in the glamour and scale.”
Anu Malik’s Role In ‘Kasam Ki Kasam’
Barjatya also shared an interesting anecdote about the song Kasam Ki Kasam. He revealed that many suggested Kareena Kapoor should smile in the song, as it felt too intense. However, he resisted the idea.
“My father and my cameraman told me the song was too sad, and Kareena should smile a little. But I insisted that the situation demanded intensity. There was a lot of debate. I even called Anu Malik (music director) to discuss the picturisation. He came to the set, heard the matter, sat in Kareena’s place, and started acting himself!”
After analysing the dialogues leading up to the song, the team decided to keep Kareena’s serious expression. Barjatya believes this decision gave Kasam Ki Kasam its emotional impact.
Despite the film’s failure, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon remains memorable, proving that even seasoned filmmakers like Barjatya sometimes miscalculate audience expectations.
