Salman Khan wasn’t ready to do Maine Pyar Kiya, said ‘I’m not good enough, take someone else’: Sooraj Barjatya

Salman Khan suggested name of his friends to Sooraj Barjatya when he was casting for Maine Pyar Kiya.

Maine Pyar Kiya was Salman Khan's first film as a leading hero.

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Salman Khan made his debut with a little known film called Biwi Ho Toh Aisi but the first time he starred in a leading role was in Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyar Kiya. The film turned out to be a massive hit and made Salman a movie star almost overnight. Now, in a recent chat, Sooraj revealed that before Salman was finalised for the role of Prem, he would keep suggesting the names of his friends, who were also trying to make it as actors, for the film.

When asked about Salman’s casting in Maine Pyar Kiya, Sooraj told Bollywood Bubble, “He was already doing a side role in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi and we wanted a newcomer. So how do I tell him no, when he was so good. But everytime I went to tell him no, he would send more and more people. (He would say) ‘You don’t take me, take him’. Which other boy is going to say that I am not good enough, take someone else?”

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In an earlier chat with Humans of Bombay, Sooraj had revealed that he rejected the first screen test of Salman Khan but he called the actor back after five months.

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Deepak Tijori had previously revealed that he was in competition with Salman for the role of Prem but the Barjatyas went ahead with Salman because of his “looks.” “He (Sooraj Barjatya) called me and told me that we saw both the auditions, we’ve loved both of you. (He explained) why we are going for Salman Khan is because the women of the family, they have adored Salman’s looks more than you, though they find as actors, both of you were competent. But because this is a love story, we need that romance. It was totally justified,” he shared with Bollywood Hungama. Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee had also been offered the role of Prem but he turned it down.

Maine Pyar Kiya also marked the debut of Bhagyashree and was one of the biggest hits of 1989.

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