Director Sooraj Barjatya says that the industry is more conducive for independent filmmakers today who have "fresh thoughts" as the audience is much more "real cinema-oriented".

"There's no opportunity better than now for people who have fresh thoughts and who want to do something new because the audience is much more educated, much more real cinema-oriented," Barjatya said at an event here.

"I wish everyone that whatever is there in your mind, you should definitely make it. It is difficult to make films today, but if you have the passion, then you have everything," he added.

Barjatya has been in the industry for more than 25 years now, having delivered some of the biggest hits of the industry with films such as 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!' and recently 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'.

In today's time where Indian cinema is undergoing many experimental and innovative changes, 'I Am A Film Maker, I Am Independent', an initiative of We Manage Filmz, founded by Gaurav Pandey, promises to encourage independent film makers by bringing them close to each other and to the right audience.