Upasana Singh has revealed that she was once considered for the lead role of Suman in Sooraj Barjatya‘s blockbuster Maine Pyaar Kiya, a part that eventually went to Bhagyashree. Looking back on the missed opportunity, the actor recalled feeling heartbroken and later confronting filmmaker Raj Kumar Barjatya about why she was not cast.
‘Sooraj Barjatya had selected me’
Speaking to Galatta India, Upasana shared that she was studying in Chandigarh when she auditioned for the film. Determined to become a heroine, she would meet producers and directors whenever she visited Mumbai.“I was studying in Chandigarh at that time and my aunt used to stay in Chembur. I always used to say that I want to be a heroine. So, whenever I used to come to Mumbai, I used to meet all these directors and producers,” she said.Upasana recalled being introduced to Sooraj Barjatya through a member of the Rajshri Productions team. According to her, the director was impressed after a brief interaction.“He didn’t take a proper audition, just asked me to say 3-4 dialogues. He liked me, and told Gupta ji that I was selected from his side,” she said.
Waiting for a call that never came
After the initial meeting, Upasana was asked to meet Sooraj Barjatya’s father, Raj Kumar Barjatya. She did so and then returned to Chandigarh, expecting to hear back from the production house.“Gupta ji then called me and said that I was selected from Sooraj ji’s side, and then I met his father. I went back to Chandigarh, but I never received a call. Then, the film was made,” she recalled.The actor admitted that she was deeply upset after losing the role and avoided watching the film for a long time.“I didn’t go to watch the film for a long time because I was feeling upset that I was the heroine and it was made without me. I didn’t tell anyone that I was selected because it felt insulting,” she said.
‘You rejected me, why?’
Years later, while shooting Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon in Switzerland, Upasana finally got an answer. She recalled Raj Kumar Barjatya revealing in front of the cast and crew that she had been the first choice for Maine Pyaar Kiya.“I wasn’t even expecting he would take my name but he did. Everyone was shocked and asked why I wasn’t cast finally. I got angry then and I told him, ‘You rejected me, why?'” she said.According to Upasana, Raj Kumar Barjatya told her that she was considered too tall opposite Salman Khan.“He said that it’s because I was taller than Salman Khan. I replied, ‘Even Sridevi is taller than him, but she can work with him? Don’t fool me!'” she recalled.Upasana added that Barjatya then joked, “If we would have cast you, you also would have left the industry like Sridevi did.”
‘Bhagyashree deserved it, but I deserved it more’
Reflecting on the film’s success, Upasana admitted that missing out on such a landmark project was painful. She said she initially avoided watching the film because of her disappointment.“At that time, I felt extremely bad. It was such a great film but I didn’t watch it for a long time. I just felt that I would have abused Bhagyashree if I went to watch the film,” she said.However, the actor also acknowledged Bhagyashree’s performance in the film. “She performed really well and deserved that role, but I deserved it more than her. Salman knew about this,” Upasana added.Released in 1989, Maine Pyaar Kiya emerged as a massive blockbuster and established Salman Khan and Bhagyashree as stars. The film also featured Reema Lagoo, Alok Nath and Mohnish Bahl in pivotal roles.
