Popular filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, who is best known for his grand scale family dramas, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘Uunchai’. Focusing on a group of friends in their sixties trying to summit Everest base camp, this film is a farcry from Barjatya’s usual style of filmmaking. Since it is a new kind of project for the filmmaker, it posed some new kinds of challenges as well.
In a recent conversation with ETimes, Sooraj opened up about the inspiration and challenges behind ‘Uunchai’. He stated, “Honestly, it was during the pandemic that I felt I should tell this story for hope. I just switched overnight and I just felt that I had to tell this story. And it was a challenge because I have done all my family dramas in Mehboob Studio and Filmistan Studio. But in Uunchai, we shot mostly exteriors in Kanpur, Lucknow, and Agra. We even went to Nepal during the lockdown.”
He further added, “I have done something that is not my usual self but I had to challenge myself. Because people want to see something different. And we as filmmakers need to convey a lot of hope today. The traumas will always be there but we need hope. And in Uunchai the story was clear. Normally, if you see my films they’re more moment-oriented. And I also had time to make this into a nice family trek film.”
Sooraj further revealed how Salman Khan initially discouraged him to make this film. He said, “When I told him that I want to make something else he laughed. He told me, “ Sooraj yeh tere style ki picture nahi hai. Kahan jayega shoot karne idhar udhar?” I told him that I wanted to do this film. So, he joked and said, “ Toh main karta hoon na yeh film saath mein. I will put on weight.” I told him that the image of Salman Khan can allow him to climb the Everest. But I need actors who have an image that will give the impression that it will be difficult for them to scale the mountain.
