Maine Pyar Kiya: Lesser known facts

When Salman Khan shocked Zeenat Aman

16 years after Salman Khan shot to fame with Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyaar Kiya, the actor is returning with his third Rajshri banner film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Getting nostalgic, Salman shared how actress Zeenat Aman was shocked after watching the film. When Salman asked her response, she said that she thought it was very childish that he had closed his eyes while rubbing iodex on Bhagyashree’s ankle and called it ridiculous. She had asserted that closing eyes while rubbing it on mid-thigh area can be understood but not in the case of ankle. To this Salman had replied her that the actress was actually hurt below the knee but she was not ready to expose even the knee, so he had to do it on the ankle instead.

While Zeenat considered the scene to be childish, Sooraj Barjatya thought Salman was too small to play Prem. Click on the next slide to know more…

Sooraj Barjatya thought Salman was too 'small' to play Prem

While Salman is synonymous with Prem now and it seems almost impossible to think of anyone else playing the role of Sooraj Barjatya's Prem, it comes as a surprise that the filmmaker was not very happy with the actor's first audition. In an interview, Sooraj has been quoted as saying that Salman looked ‘small’ to him. However, the director has confessed that his portfolio pictures spoke a different story and they decided to do a screen test with him. However, Sooraj wasn't convinced with Salman's acting prowess and started looking for another actor to play the role. Salman, too, started suggesting names for who could be Prem in the film, after he was told that he didn't fit the bill. However, it was this sweet gesture that touched Sooraj and he decided to go ahead with Salman as the lead of his film, Maine Pyar Kiya.

Read on to find out other, lesser known facts about the film...

Maine Pyar Kiya 1989's musical directed by Sooraj Barjatya holds a special place in the hearts of many who grew up in '80s. The film redefined friendship and romance in Bollywood. MPK was in every manner a trendsetter that paved the path for many more such films. Everything - from the film's costumes to its dialogue and the soulful songs - makes Maine Pyar Kiya, an epitome of romance. Besides being a cult romance, the film established Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya in B-town. We take a look at some interesting facts about the film.

Salman had no work for almost a year post MPK: Maine Pyar Kiya was a massive hit. The film had also fetched seven Filmfare Awards from the 13 nominations at the 35th Filmfare Awards held in 1990. Despite this, Salman had no work for almost a year after the film released. Salman, in an interview to Rajat Sharma on Aap Ki Adaalat, had revealed that after months of waiting when he was still not getting any film offers, his father Salim Khan published an advertisement in a trade magazine that the good looking actor was signed by a big producer. It was after this advertisement that film offers started pouring in for Salman.

It was not Salman's debut film: Maine Pyar Kiya made Salman Khan an overnight sensation and since then there has been no looking back for the actor. However, contrary to popular belief, Maine Pyar Kiya wasn't Salman's debut film. Salman made his debut in Bollywood with a cameo role in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi that starred Rekha and Farooque Sheikh in the lead roles. But this cameo role didn't seem to hamper his career anyway as Maine Pyar Kiya gave Salman instant popularity and fanbase. Today, 49-year-old Salman has completed 25 years in the industry and is still going strong.

Salman Khan was not the first choice for MPK: Though it is difficult to believe, Salman Khan wasn't the first choice to play Prem. Many newcomers from the industry had auditioned for the role including Vindoo Dara Singh, Deepak Tijori and Faraaz Khan who were being reportedly considered before Salman was cast. Reports also suggest that Faraaz Khan, Yusuk Khan's son, was almost finalised for the role but was replaced at the last minute due to health issues. However, the conviction with which Salman transformed into Prem, makes it impossible to accept anyone else could have pulled it off.

Nutan wasn't happy with Monish Behl's role in MPK: Maine Pyar Kiya not only worked wonders for the lead actors Salman Khan and Bhagyashree but also established the careers of the supporting cast. Mohnish Behl, who played the negative lead in the film seemed to have benefitted from the film's success. However, according to reports, Mohnish's mother and veteran actress Nutan wasn't keen about the idea of her son playing a villain in Maine Pyar Kiya as he had played non-villainous roles earlier. Nutan, who shared a good rapport with the Barjatyas, had reportedly also asked if Monish could fit in other roles but the makers assured her that Monish's character will be remembered for a long time to come. The prophecy indeed turned out to be true.

The film was dubbed in English as When Love Calls: Maine Pyar Kiya was loved by the masses and has several records to its credit. The film won seven awards including the Best Film, Best Music Director, Best Male Debut, Best Female Debut, Best Music Director, Best Male Playback Singer and Best Lyricist at the 35th Filmfare Awards held in 1990. The film wrote a new success story when it was dubbed in English as When Love Calls. The dubbed film was the biggest hit in the Caribbean market at Guyana and also dominated the box-office at Trinidad and Tobago. The film was later also dubbed as Te Amo in Spanish.

MPK was Laxmikanth Berde's debut Hindi film: Maine Pyar Kiya featured an ensemble cast comprising of many debutantes. Laxmikanth Berde, who was a big name in Marathi cinema, had also made his debut with the film. After the success of MPK, Laxmikanth went on to become one of the best comedians of '90s. Comedians, Dilip Joshi and Raju Shrivastava also feature as cameos in the film.