Apr 29, 2026 3:10pm IST
Mudassar Aziz Reveals Sooraj Barjatya Called Him After Watching ‘Khel Khel Mein’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Director Mudassar Aziz, known for helming movies like “Happy Bhag Jayegi” and “Pati Patni Aur Woh,” is gearing up for the release of “Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.” While the filmmaker has delivered box office hits with the above-mentioned films, his last directorial outing, “Khel Khel Mein,” which underperformed due to a clash with “Stree 2,” has given him a precious memory to cherish forever.
Talking to Variety India, Aziz reveals that the celebrated filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya enjoyed “Khel Khel Mein” and called the director to praise the film’s moments and dialogues.
“I feel ‘Khel Khel Mein’ gave me what ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh,’ ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’ and ‘Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi’ did not give me in so many ways. It is the only film in my career - I've not shared this with anyone— for which I got a call from Sooraj ji (Sooraj Bharjatya). He didn't tell me why he was calling me, and just said, ‘Mein, Aapse Milna Chahta Hu’ (I want to meet you). He called me to his office. And I thought, Rajshree wants to offer me a film, or I don't know what. I didn't know what to make of it, but obviously, when Sooraj ji calls, you go, so I just showed up and said, ‘Jee, Sooraj ji.’
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The filmmaker recalls, “Believe you me, he sat down with me for 30-45 minutes, speaking to me about ‘Khel Khel Mein.’” Revealing what elements Barjatya liked from the Akshay Kumar-starrer, he adds, “Things that he loved, lines, dialogues that he liked, moments that he thought I had captured correctly.”
Sharing the reason why it became a special memory for him, Mudassar says, “It's not come from any one of my three hit films. So, I guess, it's about the teachings. These are all the lessons you get along the way. It sort of makes you stronger for the next one. Now, I feel like that meeting and spending that time with Sooraj ji inspires me to work harder in my next film.”
Expressing how the meeting with Barjatya gave him a perspective and enhanced his confidence about his work, he adds, “Who knows if that film was a blockbuster, then maybe I wouldn't have had this meeting, and the exchange of thoughts that happened. I would have thought, ‘Oh, I'm doing really well. I don't need to change anything about what I'm doing.’ So, life has its ways of teaching you. Now I suddenly feel: Sooraj ji sees my films.”
“Pati Patni Aur Woh Do,” the movie featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Wamiqa Gabbi and Rakul Preet Singh in lead roles, hits the screens on May 15.
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