Mumbai: Upasana Singh, a well-known face of Indian cinema and television, recently revealed that she was originally considered for the lead actress role in Salman Khan’s debut film ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’. However, she was ultimately rejected due to her height, as she was taller than Salman.
In a candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Upasana shared this lesser-known anecdote from her early days in the industry, which left many fans surprised. She revealed that she had auditioned for the role of Suman, which eventually went to Bhagyashree and even received initial approval from director Sooraj Barjatya.
Recalling the events, Upasana said, “He [Sooraj Barjatya] Told me everything about the film, my role. And he chose me. After this he said, ‘You come tomorrow and meet my father but from my side you are fine.’ The next day, I met his father, and he rejected me. They’re very sweet people, so they didn’t say ‘reject’, but they didn’t call me back.
The actress later revealed the real reason behind the rejection: her height. She said, ‘She said, ‘I am not making any excuses, but you were taller than Salman.’ This is what I was told. They wanted someone who was a little younger than Salman, so they didn’t cast me. They weren’t lying.”
Years later, during the making of Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon (2003), Upasana received unexpected approval from producer Raj Kumar Barjatya himself. Recalling that moment, she said, “He said to everyone, ‘Do you know who was our first choice for Maine Pyar Kiya?’ Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan were all there. I never told people about it because I missed the role. Then he said, ‘It was Upasana.’ Everyone was surprised, ‘But I didn’t get this role because of you.’
Interestingly, Raj Kumar Barjatya told him that maybe it is for the best. “He said, ‘If I had chosen you, you too would have left films like Bhagyashree.'”
While Upasana missed the chance to debut opposite Salman Khan, she carved a niche for herself in the industry. Known for her excellent comic timing, she became a household name with her performances in films and TV shows including Judwaa 2, Golmaal Returns and her iconic role as Pinky Bua in Comedy Nights with Kapil.
