Upasana Singh reveals she was the first choice for Bhagyashree's role in Maine Pyar Kiya; says, 'I was dropped as I was taller than Salman Khan’

Upasana Singh

The iconic film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) marked the debut of Salman Khan and Bhagyashree as lead actors. Popular actress and comedian Upasana Singh has now revealed a lesser known fact about the film.

Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Upasana revealed the reasons behind her rejection and shared insights into her early Bollywood journey. She recalled meeting Sooraj Barjatya, the director of Maine Pyar Kiya, shortly after arriving in Mumbai. After her audition for the role of Suman, Sooraj had expressed confidence in her selection. "He told me everything about the film, my role, and said I was okay from his side," she shared. However, when Sooraj introduced her to his father, Raj Kumar Barjatya, things took a different turn. Raj Kumar Barjatya did not approve of her for the role, though the family conveyed the decision in a polite manner by simply not calling her back.

Years later, while working on Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon with Rajshri Productions, Raj Kumar Barjatya publicly acknowledged that Upasana was their original choice for Suman.

In the presence of Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan, he admitted, “Did you know who our first choice for Maine Pyar Kiya was? It was Upasana.”

This revelation surprised everyone, including Upasana herself. However, he jokingly added that if she had been cast, she might have left the film industry like Bhagyashree did post-marriage.

The real reason behind Upasana’s rejection, as shared by Raj Kumar Barjatya, was her height. At the time, the filmmakers wanted someone considerably shorter than Salman Khan to create an idealised on-screen dynamic. Upasana, being taller than Salman, did not fit the requirement. “He said, ‘I’m not making an excuse, but you were taller than Salman. That’s why we didn’t cast you,’” she recalled.

Maine Pyar Kiya went on to become a massive blockbuster, catapulting Salman and Bhagyashree to stardom.

Despite missing out on the iconic role, Upasana carved a successful career in films and television, becoming a household name for her comedic prowess.