In an old interview, Barjatya said that when Salman came for the audition for the film, he did not perform as per the standards that were expected of him.
The actor was rejected after the screen test because the team felt that he did not have the ‘naiveté’ required for the role. However, Barjatya was impressed with the performance of Salman and decided to give him another shot.
After reconsidering his possibilities, he finally found something in Salman that made him change his mind and cast him as Prem. This decision was to be a turning point for the actor as well as the filmmaker. Maine Pyar Kiya was followed by a series of hits and thus started the journey of Salman Khan as one of the most successful heroes of Bollywood.
Speaking with Humans of Bombay, Sooraj said, “At 21, I began writing Maine Pyar Kiya. But let me tell you a fun fact–the first script got rejected and it took me two years to write a new one! But the journey was daunting–at Rajshri, our production house, our last few films were a flop and we were suffering financially. No actor wanted to work with us. And then one day, I met a young man who we’d rejected after his first screen test. But there was something about him. So, five months later, we got him on board. That man was Salman Khan.”
He added, “The script was ready and so was the cast, but there was no money. But we knew the film would work. So, dad borrowed. The shoot began and we know what happened then—it became an iconic film! And over the years, a lot of people have said–‘We keep going back to your movies.”
Barjatya also stressed on how Khan’s portrayal of Prem became iconic and set his career in stone. The film not only made Salman popular across the country but also gave the film a cult status, for its romantic track, melodious songs and the on-screen chemistry between Salman and Bhagyashree. Today, Maine Pyar Kiya is considered one of Bollywood’s eternal love stories and Salman’s way to the top – the best example of hard work and belief.
