When we talk about Bollywood’s most iconic jodis, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit are right up there in the hall of fame! From the dreamy romance in Hum Aapke Hain Koun to their sizzling chemistry in Dil Tera Aashiq, this duo has given us some of the most unforgettable moments on screen. And behind these classic blockbusters? None other than Sooraj Barjatya, the man who redefined family dramas with pure, old-school Bollywood magic!
But here’s a little-known fact that’ll make you go, “Wait, what?!” – Madhuri Dixit was almost cast as Salman’s bhabhi in Hum Saath Saath Hain! Sooraj Barjatya recently spilled the details of why he felt majorly awkward about this casting decision.
Sooraj Barjatya Had His Doubts
In a recent revelation, Sooraj Barjatya admitted that he was hesitant to cast Madhuri Dixit in Hum Saath Saath Hain, and for good reason. The Hum Aapke Hain Koun fever was still going strong, and imagining Madhuri going from Salman’s love interest to his bhabhi? That would’ve been a tough sell!
Sooraj shared, “I told her ‘Madhuri, I am making a male dominated picture and if I cast you opposite Salman, then it is a very small role for you. And if I cast you opposite Mohnish Bahl, then you will be playing bhabhi to Salman Khan. She is such a lovely lady, she said ‘it doesn’t matter, it is a joy to work together’. But then I said I will not be comfortable.”
Tabu was The Perfect ‘Bhabhi’ Choice
Then entered Tabu. She was someone who didn’t carry a romantic on-screen history with Salman.
Sooraj explained, “The whole debate was that Salman is a star so I had to cast someone who would be accepted as a bhabhi I so we cast Tabu, because Tabu came without any image.” Tabu owned the role with her grace and depth, proving why she’s one of Bollywood’s finest.
A Film That Made Headlines for More Than One Reason
While Hum Saath Saath Hain became an instant Bollywood classic, the film’s shoot in Rajasthan also made headlines for a different reason – the infamous blackbuck poaching case. It was during this time that Salman Khan, along with a few co-stars, was accused of hunting blackbucks, leading to one of Bollywood’s longest-running legal sagas.
Despite the off-screen drama, there’s no denying that Sooraj Barjatya and Salman Khan’s collaborations are the stuff of legends. From Maine Pyaar Kiya to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, the duo has given Bollywood some of its most iconic family entertainers.
While it’s fun to imagine how Hum Saath Saath Hain would’ve looked with Madhuri in Tabu’s role, it would’ve been way too weird for 90s Bollywood fans! Lucky for us, Sooraj Barjatya followed his gut, and we got to enjoy Salman-Madhuri in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam instead.
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