Piyush Mishra opens up about not getting Salman Khan's role in 'Maine Pyar Kiya': ‘Good it didn’t happen’

Salman Khan and Piyush Mishra

It's a known fact that Salman Khan's role in 'Maine Pyar Kiya' was first offered to Piyush Mishra. The Sooraj Barjatya directorial debut made Salman Khan a star overnight. Now, finally talking about it, Piyush Mishra has shared that he is glad he didn't play the part of Prem in the film.

In an interview with Times of India, Piyush shared that he doesn't know why the topic blew out of proportion; it was not a big deal for him. "It wasn't that I had become a star or I had landed that part. It was an early discussion, and I was majorly considered by Sooraj Barjatya's father (Raj Kumar Barjatya). He had come to meet me; he didn't cast me as such. I was in third year when this had happened. It wasn't that big a deal at all. I don't know why it was blown out of proportion, that I was just on the brink of becoming a star but then couldn't," said Piyush.

Piyush further added that he wasn't ready and that he is glad he didn't land the role because he couldn't have been able to handle the success. "They wanted me to claim the role was taken away from me. But that isn't true. I went on to work a lot after that. If by chance I had landed the opportunity, I would have bagged that big a chance prematurely, at an age when I was perhaps not ready mentally, physically, or emotionally. I was a 26-year-old boy then; I could not have handled the success. Mera dimaag ud jaata (my mind would've blown). I would not have been able to handle that kind of stardom, and I accept it. I was not ready for it, so it is good this didn't happen with me," he added.

'Maine Pyar Kiya' is a 1989 Indian romantic musical film directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and produced by Rajshri Productions. The film stars Salman Khan and Bhagyashree in lead roles. It tells the story of Prem and Suman, two young individuals who fall in love but must overcome various obstacles to be together. The film became a massive commercial success and a cultural phenomenon, establishing Salman Khan as a major Bollywood star.