Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is also known as 'Prem' in the industry. The reason behind this is that he has played the character named Prem in many films. Salman Khan first played the character of Prem in the 1989 film 'Maine Pyar Kiya'. The director of this film was Sooraj Barjatya. Recently during a conversation, Sooraj Barjatya told that when he saw Salman Khan for the first time, he was not impressed by him and did not even think of taking him as a hero in the film.

In an interview, Sooraj Barjatya recalled Salman Khan's early days and said, "At first I did not understand how Salim Khan's son would work with us?" He also said that Salman Khan was thinking of rejecting the film offer first, because he was not interested in playing ordinary characters. In Rajshri Productions films, heroes usually played ordinary characters.

Sooraj Barjatya recalls his first impression of Salman, "He looked very young and did not look like a hero. But when I saw his photographs, he looked terrific. There was a different kind of power in his presence in front of the camera. When we reached the interval after hearing the story of the film, we shook hands and decided to do the film. But later we faced a serious problem." Sooraj Barjatya said, "Salman was not able to act properly at that time. I don't know if it was my fault or his, but his voice was completely out of control. Then we started preparing for the dance sequence and called Farah Khan for it, but nothing was going right. Salman's dance was not going well at all. Then I made him sit on a chair and gave a guitar in his hand. Salman nodded a little and only then I understood that his style, his face, his romance, everything was right. But he was not able to talk. Then we came to know that Salman had played a supporting role in 'Biwi Ho To Aisi'." 

Sooraj Barjatya also said, "For six months Salman kept sending me to launch others in his place. Then I myself went to meet him during the shooting and said that I want to move forward with you. At that time also there were some people sitting with him who wanted me to cast them in the film. It was Salman's honesty that did not let me refuse to cast him in the film. With this honestly how could I say 'no' to him? Salman has always been honest, and even today he supports me, even if I need a guest role he asks." Thus, the pair of Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya made their own identity in the film industry and Salman played the character of Prem in films from 'Maine Pyar Kiya' to 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.