Did you know Salman Khan hesitated to romance Sonam Kapoor on screen in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo due to bond with Anil Kapoor?

Time of India

05-08-2025

may be known for his effortless charm on screen, but even the superstar had his reservations when it came to romancing
in the 2015 blockbuster
. The reason? A deep-rooted family bond.
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A surprising revelation
In what was a surprising revelation, both Sonam and director
shared how Salman hesitated to take on the role—mainly because of his long-standing friendship with Sonam's father,
. What followed was months of convincing, candid conversations, and ultimately, a pairing that became one of the film's many highlights.
Salman Khan's awkwardness
According to a report published in News18, Sonam admitted that Salman was initially hesitant to work with her in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
Given his long-standing friendship with her father, Anil Kapoor—with whom he shared screen space in films like Biwi No. 1 and No Entry—Salman found the idea of romancing his friend's daughter on screen quite awkward.
A whole lot of convincing
It reportedly took the superstar nearly five months to come on board for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. He later revealed that he was initially unwilling to work with Sonam Kapoor, but director Sooraj Barjatya eventually convinced him.
Salman explained that the romance in Sooraj's films has a unique tone, which made the role challenging—but added that Sonam was the perfect fit for the character.
On her part, Sonam had no reservations about working with Khan. She shared that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, adding that she had grown up watching his films and shared a familial bond with him. She also mentioned her familiarity with his family, including his father,
.
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Prem Ratan Dhan Payo became the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and marked Salman Khan's fourth collaboration with Rajshri Productions. The hit partnership previously delivered blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999).
Director Sooraj Barjatya revealed that he initially narrated the script of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo to Salman Khan without mentioning who the female lead would be.
He shared that he was looking for a fresh face, and after watching Raanjhanaa, he felt Sonam Kapoor was the perfect choice for the role.
When director Sooraj Barjatya finally showed Sonam Kapoor's photo to Salman Khan, the actor was taken aback. Barjatya recalled that Salman looked at him and said he needed time to think it over. A month went by before he gave a nod. Salman was reportedly concerned about the age gap, Sonam's youthful appearance, and her height. Having watched her grow up, it was initially difficult for him to imagine romancing her on screen.