Sooraj Barjatya’s iconic film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) remains one of Bollywood’s most successful romantic dramas and marked the debut of Salman Khan as a lead actor. The film also turned Bhagyashree into an overnight star.

However, very few people know that Bhagyashree was not the original choice for the role of Suman. According to actress Upasana Singh, she was initially selected for the role but later replaced due to her height.

Upasana Singh Reveals She Was First Choice

In a recent interview, Upasana Singh shared that she had auditioned for Maine Pyar Kiya and was even informally selected by director Sooraj Barjatya after a brief interaction.

She recalled that she met the casting team through Gupta Ji, who worked with Rajshri Productions, and was later introduced to Sooraj Barjatya. After a short audition, she was told she had been selected for the role.

Why She Lost the Role

Despite being selected initially, things did not move forward.

According to Upasana Singh, the final decision changed after discussions with the production team. The main reason cited was her height, as she was reportedly taller than Salman Khan.

She later said in the interview that this unexpected change left her disappointed, especially since she was already mentally prepared for the role.

Emotional Revelation Years Later

Upasana Singh also shared that she later met Sooraj Barjatya’s father, Raj Kumar Barjatya, during the shoot of another film and learned that she had indeed been the first choice for the role.

She expressed her frustration at the time but also acknowledged that the final casting decision went in favor of Bhagyashree, who ultimately delivered a memorable performance.

“Bhagyashree Deserved the Role”

Despite her disappointment, Upasana Singh admitted that Bhagyashree did justice to the character of Suman and became widely loved for her performance.

She also added that the film’s success was extraordinary and became a turning point in Bollywood history.

Conclusion

The story behind Maine Pyar Kiya shows how casting decisions in Bollywood can change unexpectedly. While Upasana Singh was initially in line for the role, fate eventually led it to Bhagyashree—a decision that helped create one of the most iconic love stories in Indian cinema.