It is refreshing to see a director make a film out of his heart without considering outside factors or commercial success in Bollywood, where everything is based on hits, misses, and box office results. With Uunchai, acclaimed director Sooraj Barjatya says he wanted to break free and create a quiet world with no frills attached. He has previously produced blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Hum Saath Saath Hain, and Vivah.
Sooraj Barjatya explained in a video on Rajshri Productions’ YouTube website that paradoxically, the notion to make a soulful movie came to him right as the pandemic was starting and the market was falling. The 58-year-old went on to explain that one day, while in his workplace, he could only hear conversations concerning declining markets, low revenue, and other such topics. Then, without thinking about these things because he had been competing his entire life, he decided he wanted to make a movie.
The well-known director insisted that it isn’t always possible to measure success by box office receipts. He claimed that adopting this viewpoint was freeing, and that once the idea of Uunchai entered his head, it stayed there until the end.
Today is Uunchai’s theatrical release. Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, and Sarika all play significant parts in the film.