The iconic film Maine Pyar Kiya marked the debut of Salman Khan and Bhagyashree as leading stars, but the casting process had its share of surprises. While Salman had already appeared in a small role in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi, this film was his first as a leading hero. The search for the leading lady opposite him was extensive, and among those who auditioned was actor Upasana Singh.
In a recent interview, Upasana revealed that she was initially selected by director Sooraj Barjatya but ultimately not cast because of her height. Reflecting on the experience in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Upasana said, “I auditioned for Bhagyashree’s role. When I first came to Mumbai, I met Sooraj. He explained the film and my role to me. After my audition, he told me, ‘From my end, you’re selected. Just meet my father tomorrow’.”
However, the next day, things took a different turn. “When I met his father, Raj Kumar Barjatya, he didn’t say anything harsh, but they didn’t call me back. They are very kind people, so they didn’t outright reject me. But I wasn’t chosen,” Upasana recalled.
Years later, while working with Rajshri Productions on Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Upasana was reminded of her earlier brush with Maine Pyar Kiya. During a conversation on set, Raj Kumar Barjatya revealed to the cast, including Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan, that Upasana had been their first choice for the role of Suman. “He announced, ‘Do you know who was our first choice for Maine Pyar Kiya? It was Upasana.’ Everyone was surprised. I told him, ‘But because of you, I didn’t get the role!’ He joked, ‘If we had cast you, you might have left films like Bhagyashree did,’” she shared.
Upasana also revealed the specific reason she wasn’t cast. “They wanted a leading lady who was considerably shorter than Salman, and I was taller. Sooraj later explained this to me, saying, ‘This isn’t an excuse, but you were taller than Salman, and we needed someone shorter.’ They were honest about it,” she added.
Despite losing out on the role, Upasana’s career flourished in its own right, with her later becoming a beloved figure in Indian cinema and television.
