Sooraj Barjatya reveals Hum Aapke Hain Koun was adapted from the book ‘Kohbar Ki Shart’: “In the novel, Madhuri Dixit marries Mohnish Bahl and not Salman Khan. Everyone dies in the end…” : Bollywood News

Sooraj Barjatya had an interesting conversation with Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day, during which he spoke about his films, his journey and also that of his production house, Rajshri Productions, started by his grandfather, Tarachand Barjatya. A conversation with the master filmmaker is incomplete without talking about his all-time blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), starring Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Mohnish Bahl.

Sooraj Barjatya reveals Hum Aapke Hain Koun was adapted from the book ‘Kohbar Ki Shart’: “In the novel, Madhuri Dixit marries Mohnish Bahl and not Salman Khan. Everyone dies in the end…”

Sooraj Barjatya began by saying, “The structure of Hum Aapke Hain Koun belongs to Nadiya Ke Paar (1982). We owe Nadiya Ke Paar to a book called ‘Kohbar Ki Shart’. It’s a textbook from Agra University and is written by K P Mishra ji. My father (Rajkumar Barjatya) read it way back in 1968. In that novel, Salman and Madhuri’s characters do not get married. Madhuri gets married to Mohnish ji. Later, there’s a drought in the village and everyone dies. It had a sad ending.”

Sooraj Barjatya continued, “That was the third act (which we removed). When my father read the last bit, he said, ‘Mujhe toh yeh bahut hi bekaar lag raha hai. Mujhe toh yeh yahin tak acchi lag rahi hai’ (until the second act)! Mishra ji was reluctant at first (to allow us to make the film) but later, he agreed.”

He added, “Nadiya Ke Paar was supposed to be a small-budget film but it became very huge. Hence, after Maine Pyar Kiya, he (Rajkumar Barjatya) suggested that I should make a film from this idea. I asked him about the screenplay structure. He insisted, ‘If you have a top star and top heroine and if you (pepper) it with interesting characters and anecdotes, then you can take that chance’. He also remarked that it would be an exclusive film kyunki aisi filmein banti nahin hai.”

Sooraj Barjatya also stated, “He was confident that I’d be able to pull it off. He said, ‘You know these customs, you have lived through it’. So, I just flowed with it and I am so thankful that all my actors also agreed.”

Also Read: Sholay’s 50th anniversary celebration at Raj Mandir Jaipur: Sooraj Barjatya shares heartening anecdote about Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyar Kiya: “Raj Mandir projectionist told me, ‘Aapka hero hit hai, aapka kabootar hit hai’!”