Casting The casting of the lead actor was complex. Several newcomers auditioned for the role of 'Prem', including
Vindu Dara Singh,
Deepak Tijori, and
Faraaz Khan. While Faraaz Khan, son of the actor Yusuf Khan who played the villainous Zabisco in
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), was almost finalised for the role, he was replaced at the last minute due to health issues. Barjatya tested Shabina Dutt for the lead actress role. Dutt failed the screen test and Barjatya asked if she could suggest an actor for the lead. Barjatya loved
Tom Cruise's
Top Gun jacket so much that he designed one on the similar lines for Khan in
Maine Pyar Kiya. Like Tom Cruise's jacket, which had patches of logos and emblems of the
American Army,
Navy and
Air Force insignia, and other badges from the
defence forces, Khan's jacket too had similar insignias pasted on it. Barjatya then cast
Bhagyashree to star opposite Salman Khan. Though Salman recommended Bahl for the villain's role, veteran actress and
Mohnish Bahl's mother
Nutan was not happy with her son playing villain's role in the film. Nutan, who shared a good rapport with the Barjatyas, had reportedly also asked if Mohnish could fit in other roles. Makers assured her that Bahl's character would be remembered for a long time to come.
Filming Prior to the film's production,
Rajshri Productions was struggling financially, and was on the verge of closing down. Director/writer Sooraj Barjatya's father Rajkumar Barjatya suggested the story of
Maine Pyar Kiya and His Father's Friend was Legendary filmmaker
Tarun Majumdar suggested the script of
Maine Pyar Kiya. Barjatya spent ten months writing the screenplay for
Maine Pyar Kiya. The film had a production budget of . In addition to the production budget, another was spent on the soundtrack's radio publicity. Additional production credits include dance choreographer — Jay Borade, art—Bijon Das Gupta, action—Shamim Azim and editor—Mukhtar Ahmed. == Music ==