Sooraj Barjatya, the man who made Tuffy iconic, reveals he's actually scared of animals in real life

CJ Desk

As Sooraj R. Barjatya steps into the world of OTT with Bada Naam Karenge, he takes a nostalgic trip back to Hum Aapke Hain Koun, the film that introduced one of Indian cinema’s most beloved pets—Tuffy. However, in a revelation that may surprise many, the filmmaker recently admitted that he is actually scared of animals!

While promoting Bada Naam Karenge on Indian Idol, Barjatya shared an unexpected behind-the-scenes anecdote when contestant Manushi asked him about his love for animals, as portrayed in his films. He confessed, “Animals are just as important as humans, but I get scared around them. During Hum Aapke Hain Koun, we had two dogs playing Tuffy—one for morning shoots and another for the evening. Even in Hum Saath Saath Hain, when we shot the elephant scene, I kept my distance, too nervous to be near my actors as they filmed with the animals.”

Despite his fears, Barjatya’s storytelling brought Tuffy to life, cementing the character as a legendary figure in Indian cinema. Now, as Bada Naam Karenge is set to premiere on Sony LIV on February 7, fans are eager to see what new magic the master filmmaker will bring to the screen.

Directed by Gullak fame Palash Vaswani, the series tells a Gen Z love story about discovering one’s roots. The ensemble cast includes Ritik Ghanshani, Ayesha Kaduskar, Kanwaljeet Singh, Alka Amin, Rajesh Jais, Chitrali Lokesh, Deepika Amin, Jameel Khan, Rajesh Tailang, Anjana Sukhani, Sadhika Sayal, Gyanendra Tripathi, Priyamvada Kant, Omm Dubey, and Bhavesh Babani. 

Bada Naam Karenge promises to be an emotional rollercoaster, filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments.