Sooraj Barjatya says Uunchai was out of his comfort zone and he wasn't prepared to make the film

Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya received the National Film Award for Best Direction for his 2022 film Uunchai during the ceremony held on October 8. At the event, Barjatya reflected on how Uunchai pushed him out of his comfort zone, admitting he initially felt unprepared to direct it. His journey began when Amitabh Bachchan expressed interest in the project.

In an interview with Barjatya explained that he had the film's story in mind since 2016. He was hesitant to direct Uunchai because it ventured beyond his usual style. Notably, he had not filmed outside his studio except for a few songs shot in Ooty.

He said, "Maine Bachchan sir ko phone kiya. Mahina bhar lia unhone, jab unka 'haan' aaya uske baad se shuru hua."

In the same interaction, Sooraj Barjatya shared that working with senior actors in Uunchai was a "dream team" for him and called his shooting experience "beautiful".

However, during the pandemic, he embraced the challenge and completed the script in just three months. Recalling the production experience, Barjatya noted that they often finished filming by 11 a.m., and the star cast typically required only one take for each scene. He expressed gratitude to his talented ensemble, which included Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, as well as Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, and Sarika.

The 70th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, celebrated outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, with veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty also receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.