May 08, 2026 9:45pm IST
Bhagyashree Says 80% of ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ Was Shot in First Takes: ‘Sooraj ji Would Never Make Me Rehearse’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Bhagyashree’s latest release "Raja Shivaji" has become the highest grossing Marathi film of all time. The Riteish Deshmukh film where she plays the role of Jijabai has opened to big numbers. In a recent chat with Variety India, Bhagyashree took a trip down memory lane and shared some anecdotes on the making of “Maine Pyar Kiya,” revealing that much of the beloved 1989 blockbuster was filmed in first takes, thanks to director Sooraj Barjatya’s instinctive style of working.The actress, who made her debut opposite Salman Khan in the film, said Barjatya preferred spontaneity over repeated rehearsals, allowing performances to feel fresh and natural.
Related Stories
“In fact, I think most of ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was done in first takes. I would say almost 80 to 85 percent. Because Sooraj ji would never make me rehearse. For me, rehearsals were only for lighting purposes or for trolley camera movements, so that you reached a particular spot by the end of your sentence or by the end of the scene, because that would be our last frame. But he would never make me say the dialogues," she elaborates.
She added that after an initial day of rehearsals, the filmmaker quickly realised her instinctive performances worked best, saying, “He did that on the first day, I think, and then he said, no no no, your first take is always your best take. So you just be yourself, just look at what is being done, and then when we say take, chalo. So that’s how ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was.”
Bhagyashree believes that naturalness is one of the key reasons the film continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
“Also, I think the rawness is what makes it so adorable. It is so real, it’s raw, it’s something that everyone can relate to, and it’s innocent. There’s a part of all of us that wishes we were part of that. And it’s not just because it’s ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ or because it’s my film, but even as a viewer, if I’m watching the film and looking at the different relationships in it, you see yourself in some part of it," she states.
The actress also reflected on working with Salman Khan, describing her co-star as both mischievous and caring during the shoot.
Bhagyashree says, “He was protective and a naughty boy mix. So there were different emotions at different times, but more or less he was more protective about me.”
Bhagyashree said her overwhelmingly positive experience on set changed the way she viewed acting as a profession.
“So I’ve always had very fond memories about shooting ‘Maine Pyar Kiya,’ otherwise I wouldn’t have. I had no intention of getting into this profession, but shooting with Salman and Sooraj ji made me rethink it. I began enjoying acting, and that’s when I thought that this is something I enjoy doing, something I would like to pursue and continue," Bhagyashree affirms.
Though she later stepped away from films for a period, she said the warmth of making “Maine Pyar Kiya” has stayed with her ever since.
“It’s another thing that I took a break, but this stayed with me. It wouldn’t have been possible if filming ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ had left me with bad memories, something I regretted doing, or if there had been problems on set. Everything was so smooth sailing and everyone was so nice that yeah, I could go back there in a blink of a second," she concludes.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.