Salman Khan and Bhagyashree’s cult film Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989) is till date remembered for its iconic songs, unforgettable dialogues and impeccable chemistry between the couple. Rajeev Verma, who essayed the role of Salman’s father, left a deep impact on the audience with his performance. He has also played a warm and caring father figure in other hit films like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Biwi No. 1 and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
Why did Salman Khan’s co-star Rajeev Verma quit acting at his peak?
Rajeev Verma, who is married to Jaya Bachchan’s sister Rita Verma, stepped away from the glamour industry despite enjoying a long and successful career in Bollywood. According to Verma, the job became quite monotonous, which eventually took away the excitement which he once had for acting.
In a conversation on the DearGeneration podcast, Rajeev Verma said, “There came a stage when I stopped enjoying acting. I felt I didn’t want to do it anymore. It started feeling like the office job I used to do earlier — the only difference was that the cheque here was bigger. The excitement and satisfaction I once felt had disappeared. It had become routine work.”
What happened when Rajeev Verma decided to shift back to Bhopal?
Verma said that the excitement got vanished gradually, which ultimately made him choose to move back to Bhopal. The actor said he was happy with his decision to prioritise mental peace over professional ambition. “That’s why I came back. Now I mostly do theatre and enjoy life. I don’t have a great financial need anymore. I have a small hotel here in Bhopal, my children are settled, so now I do theatre and enjoy myself,” he said.
What did Rajeev Verma say about the film industry dynamics?
According to him, the entertainment industry is not the same anymore, which he finds amusing rather than disappointing. “Due to OTT, more people are getting work, but that era is gone when people would instantly recognise you because of your work. Recently, I was somewhere when a large group of tourists from Gujarat came over to take photographs with me. They spoke about the characters they had seen me play. But after all that, they asked me, ‘Sir, what is your name?” the veteran actor said.
Where is Rajeev Verma now?
Beyond film appearances, Rajeev was also quite active in the television industry and part of popular serials such as Chunauti and Mujrim Haazir. Though he has moved away from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, he continues to remain active in theatre from Bhopal.
