Prem vs Kabir Singh vs Ranvijay: Sooraj Barjatya says they’re two sides of the same coin

In the cinematic world of Sooraj Barjatya, Prem is not merely a hero—he is a sentiment. Played memorably by Salman Khan in multiple films, Prem is devotion personified: soft-spoken, family-bound, and deeply respectful. He loves intensely but never loudly, carrying tradition in his heart like sacred scripture. For many families, he remains the ideal son and partner.

Also Check: Dhurandhar actor joins Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari, steps into Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic world with ‘Yeh Prem Mol Liya’

Yet, Hindi cinema today often celebrates a different prototype—the brooding, dominant alpha male. From Kabir Singh to Animal, audiences have witnessed a surge of hypermasculine protagonists whose love is fierce, flawed, and unapologetically aggressive.

Love, Reimagined Yet Unchanged

Interestingly, Barjatya doesn’t see Prem and Kabir Singh as opposites. He believes they are reflections of the same emotional core. Ahead of his latest show Sangamarmar on JioHotstar, starring Sourabh Raaj Jain and Sheen Savita Das, Barjatya reiterated that the essence of romance hasn’t shifted. The series traces a couple whose love quietly survives 25 years without marriage.

“He waits for the woman for 25 years even as she is taking care of her responsibilities,” says Barjatya.

Often critiqued for portraying men who defy stereotypical machismo, he shares with amusement, “Every two to three weeks, people tell me such a world does not exist. Don’t give us this wrong hope. Girls tell me that their parents want this sort of guy for them, and yeh banne band ho gaye hain (These don’t exist anymore). But I say jitne pehle the aaj bhi hain (they exist today too). You just have to find them.”

“Koi itna pyaar to kare...” 

From Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! to Vivaah, Barjatya’s heroes chose sacrifice over swagger. Meanwhile, Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir and Ranbir Kapoor’s Ranvijay in Animal embody passion with volatility. But for Barjatya, this isn’t a cultural battle.

“They are representations of the same men,” he says.

“Itna pyaar to kare koi (Someone must love this passionately). If you look at it, whether it is Kabir Singh, Animal, Prem, or the protagonist from Sangamarmar, but itna pyaar to kare,” he said.

Must Read: Salman Khan's reunion with Sooraj Barjatya as Prem! Filmmaker shares MAJOR UPDATE

He concluded, “All of them have come through the journeys of their soul. They have their own upbringing and values. But essentially, it is the power of love. I feel they are two sides of the same coin.”

Perhaps the real question isn’t whether Prem survives in today’s cinema—but whether audiences still believe in gentleness as strength.