‘Salman Khan was reluctant to do Maine Pyar Kiya; felt he was not good enough’: Sooraj Barjatya

Salman Khan became an overnight star with Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic-musical film Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989, which also starred Bhagyashree. In a recent interview, the celebrated filmmaker revealed that Salman kept declining the lead role in the film, while pitching names of his friends, who were also trying to make it big in Bollywood at that time.

Also read: Salman Khan on Tiger 3: I was like a child when I was doing those massively mounted action scenes 

When asked about casting Salman in Maine Pyar Kiya, Sooraj told Bollywood Bubble that they wanted to cast a newcomer. At that time, Salman was doing a small role in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi, and the filmmaker found him so good that we wanted to cast him in his upcoming project. But much to Sooraj’s disappointment, Salman kept rejecting the role and would send other people instead. “But every time I went to tell him no, he would send more and more people. ‘You don’t take me, take him’. Which other boy is going to say that I am not good enough, take someone else,” he said.

Actor Deepak Tijori had earlier said that he was approached for the role, but Salman was finalised because of his looks. Explaining the reason the filmmaker chose Salman over Deepak, Sooraj said the actor that the women of the family have adored Salman’s looks more than him though they find both of them competent as actors. “But because this is a love story, we need that romance,” he said.

Also read: Salman Khan marks 35 years in the industry, promises to gift fans an action-packed spectacle with Tiger 3 

Salman is currently gearing for the release of Tiger 3, opposite Katrina Kaif. This Maneesh Sharma film also features Emraan Hashmi in a key role.