EXCLUSIVE: Sooraj Barjatya reveals he didn’t want to sign Salman Khan in Maine Pyar Kiya: He would keep sending me his friends to be cast

Actor Salman Khan started his filmy career with Biwi Ho Toh Aisi where he was seen in a supporting role. But Salman Khan gained wide recognition when he starred in his debut movie Maine Pyar Kiya in a lead role. From his boyish charm to his style, fans were gushing over his look. But did you know that Sooraj Barjatya was not very keen on casting Salman Khan in Maine Pyar Kiya? That’s right! Whenever Sooraj approached him to tell him ‘no’, he then sent others for Prem’s role.

Sooraj Barjatya on Salman Khan’s debut with Maine Pyar Kiya

Speaking about the same, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya was asked if he was actually sending others for the role. He exclusively told Bollywood Bubble, “The main story is that he was already doing a side role in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi and we wanted a newcomer for the film. How do I tell him no when he was so good? But every time I went to tell him no, he would send more and more people, saying, ‘Don’t take me, take him’. Which other boy is going to say that I’m not good enough and take someone else’ when I’m keeping someone waiting for six months? But that is Salman Khan and those were the old days and that’s what makes him unique.“

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Sooraj Barjatya on thinking of dubbing Salman Khan’s voice

Sooraj was asked if he had to dub Salman Khan’s voice for the movie. He said, “When we dubbed his voice for Maine Pyar Kiya, in the morning, Salman’s voice didn’t do full justice. If you do dubbing in the afternoon, it’s fine. So we finished the entire Maine Pyar Kiya dubbing in the morning and then we took to the mixing theatre, we realised there was no enough throw because that time we couldn’t use the sync sound. At that time, there was a big question that the voice would not be suited because it would not be heard. There was a talk if there should be a dubbing artist. So the credit goes to my father who said ‘No, he is a new boy and we must give him one more chance’. Then we re-dubbed it in the afternoon.“

Watch the full interview

Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya have worked together on many films including, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Also read: Salman Khan calls ‘babu’ Sooraj Barjatya his ‘best director’ as he wishes him for Uunchai