Actor Deepak Tijori recently revealed that he was signed to play the role of Prem in Sooraj Barjatya’s 1989 film Maine Pyar Kiya. However, Sooraj later went ahead with Salman Khan. Salman and Bhagyashree’s Maine Pyar Kiya went on to become a cult classic.
Sharing how he was also shortlisted with Salman and almost selected for the role, Deepak told Bollywood Bubble, “For Main Ne Pyaar Kiya, they had auditioned a lot of people, but two of us were finalized – me and Salman Khan. Then I was told that I was selected. But later, when I was called to say no, I found the reason justified.”
“I have been very practical. I have had a tough life, so I don’t get shocked by such things. Sooraj ji very lovingly told me that he scanned both the auditions and showed them to the family, too. However, the women seem to love Salman for his looks, his cuteness. He told me that I had performed very well, but since it was a love story, they went ahead with Salman. And I agreed with him. When he told me that women will immediately fall in love with Salman given his looks, I also accepted. I told him, ‘Sir, I am hurt, but at the same time, you are right.’ I was mature enough and never felt that he wronged me, I felt it was justified, so I said okay and walked back,” he added.
Deepak Tijori also shared how Mansoor Khan had initially rejected him for Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikander, and later he replaced Milind Soman in the film after 75 percent of it had been shot.
Deepak was last seen in a short film titled Echoes Of Us, also starring Salman Khan’s rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur.
