Sooraj Barjatya opens up about why he didn’t cast Salman Khan in Vivah over Shahid Kapoor, says ‘Isme umar…’

In a recent conversation, Sooraj Barjatya revealed why he decided to cast Shahid Kapoor instead of Salman Khan for the role of Prem in Vivah.

Vivah, released in 2006, remains one of the most iconic films in our cinema, with its timeless narrative and memorable performances. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film starred Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao in the lead roles, becoming a massive success. While the director had previously collaborated with Salman Khan in hits like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, and Hum Saath Saath Hain, it came as a shock when he chose Shahid Kapoor over Salman Khan for Vivah. This decision sparked a lot of curiosity, especially given their successful history together.

Why Suraj Barjatya Chose Shahid Kapoor Over Salman Khan

In a recent conversation with Digital Commentary, Sooraj Barjatya revealed why he decided to cast Shahid Kapoor instead of Salman Khan for the role of Prem in Vivah. The ace director explained that despite his frequent collaborations with Salman Khan, he felt that Salman Khan did not look innocent or age-appropriate for the role.

He also recalled that after the failure of Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, which starred Kareena Kapoor Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan had called Sooraj Barjatya, expressing interest in working together again. “After Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon flopped, Salman called and said, ‘Let’s work on something’. But at that time, I didn’t have a story for Salman, and this was a story that my father had given me,” Sooraj Barjatya shared.

The director explained that his father had handed him the script for Vivah, and the moment he read it, he knew Salman Khan wouldn’t be the right fit for the role. He said, “I wanted a more innocent appearance and a younger look for the male lead. I didn’t think Salman would be the right choice for this.”

According to the director, Vivah needed an actor who could embody innocence that’s when he decided to cast Shahid Kapoor alongside Amrita Rao. He also said, “When I decided I wanted to make this, I knew Salman wouldn’t fit here because he was a major star. Isme bholapan chahiye, umar chahiye aur umar toh kisiki rukegi nahi. Toh fir yeh Shahid aur Amrita ki casting huyi.”

About Vivah

Alongside Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao, the film featured a stellar supporting cast, including Anupam Kher, Alok Nath, Seema Biswas, Sameer Soni, and Lata Sabharwal. The film earned Rs 222 crore after seven weeks of running and also became the 10th highest-grossing film of 2006 and was even dubbed in Telugu.