Exclusive | Bhagyashree on 'Raja Shivaji' and A 'Maine Pyaar Kiya' Secret: 'Never Saw The Film on the Big Screen'

In 1989, as the love-soaked melodies of Maine Pyar Kiya echoed through packed cinema halls, India was in the grip of a romantic fever. While audiences of every stripe—restless teenagers, newlyweds seeking a blueprint for romance, or silver-haired couples rediscovering old sparks—found their heartbeat in the innocence of Prem and Suman, the film’s leading lady was experiencing a vastly different reality: Bhagyashree was nursing a full-term pregnancy.

"I’ll tell you a secret: I have actually never seen Maine Pyar Kiya on the big screen!" the actor chuckles. Speaking to THR India, Bhagyashree reflects on the sheer euphoria of the film that fundamentally shifted the landscape of Indian cinema and could have easily earned her the moniker of the "National Crush."

"I was full-term pregnant when the film was released! My family told me that at nine months pregnant, I couldn't go into those massive crowds. And once the euphoria hit, there was no way I could have gone. I’ve only heard the stories—from my relatives, friends and fans, how people flew off balconies when the pigeons appeared or how people actually took pigeons into the theaters. But it is so funny, I wasn't there to experience any of it!" she laughs.

Marking a pivotal turning point in Indian cinema, Maine Pyar Kiya introduced Sooraj Barjatya’s directorial vision and Salman Khan’s leading-man charm to a nation, eventually cementing itself as one of the most culturally significant films of Hindi cinema.

Decades later, for Bhagyashree, the film exists less as a cinematic experience and more as a sensory archive. She admits she hasn't watched it in years, but whenever a clip flickers across a screen, the floodgates open.

"There's always some memory that's associated with it. Like, when I was doing a particular shot, what was I feeling at that point of time? That's what it does when I see Maine Pyar Kiya. So, I remember me and Salman playing a prank on one another or teasing Sooraj Ji because he was just married at that point of time. And when he would come on the set and we would tease Sooraj Ji. The scenes basically have those kinds of memories rather than memories of the film per se," she adds.

Today, even as her children, Abhimanyu and Avantika Dassani, carve their own paths in the industry, Bhagyashree remains as discerning as ever. Her latest turn as Jijabai in the historical epic Raja Shivaji has already cemented its place as the second-highest-grossing Marathi film of all time.

Despite the record-breaking box office, she remains remarkably detached from the trade metrics. "Numbers are how the industry quantifies success, but I term success differently," she explains.

"It’s about people seeing the film and telling me they loved the character I played. So numbers don't really fascinate me anymore. It’s about me having fun while shooting, enjoying my piece of work, and coming home feeling satisfied with every shot."

Chronicling the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Raja Shivaji is produced, written, and directed by Riteish Deshmukh, who also stars in the titular role.