Prior to Salman Khan, Piyush Mishra received an opportunity to star in Maine Pyar Kiya while he was in his final year of NSD.
India’s biggest superstar, Salman Khan, was made possible by the 1989 smash Maine Pyar Kiya. The movie was popular back then, and many people still love it today. But what if we told you that the movie originally called for another actor—not Salman—to play the role of the hero? Unbelievable, isn’t it? Piyush Mishra recently disclosed that although he was approached for the part, things didn’t work out as planned.
Prem and Suman, created by Maine Pyar Kiya and created by Salman and Bhagyashree, respectively, are two of the most recognisable romantic Bollywood characters. Both actors received a significant boost from it, turning them into stars. But before Salman, Piyush Mishra received the romantic drama when he was in his final year of NSD.
Piyush Mishra said, “Woh haadsa tha, but I don’t regret. When I was studying in final year of NSD, few months were left for me to pass out. My director called me to his room. Now, I was a very haseen ladka, I was very handsome in my time. I had a German jaw and a Roman nose. When I went to the chamber, I was introduced to a gentleman, who was a big director, I won’t take his name, and he was launching his son as a director. He said they are making a film called Maine Pyaar Kiya, they have shortlisted the girl, now they have come to NSD to find the male lead.”
Piyush Mishra said, “They were happy to see, asked me my name, when would I graduate from the institute. They asked me to come to Mumbai immediately after that and gave me their visiting card, asking me to come to their Prabhadevi office immediately. I said ok sure I will go. They liked my features too and took a photograph. Fifteen days later, the director (of NFDC) met me and told me that he got a call for me and asked me to immediately leave for Mumbai, even if it means to leave NSD midway.”
Piyush Mishra admitted that he never visited Mumbai and that he passed up the chance to live a life-altering experience. He said, “I said I will go, but I didn’t. By then, dil mein badi khatas thi, pata nahi kyu duniya se nafrat ho gayi thi (I had started to hate the world). I went there three years later and learnt that Salman Khan was born with the film, and I thought that’s great. But if I had gone back then, I would not have been able to do the kind of work I did later. Everyone has their own journey, their destiny.”
