Sholay’s 50th anniversary celebration at Raj Mandir Jaipur: Sooraj Barjatya shares heartening anecdote about Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyar Kiya: “Raj Mandir projectionist told me, ‘Aapka hero hit hai, aapka kabootar hit hai’!”

At the 50th-anniversary celebration of the iconic film “Sholay” at Jaipur’s Raj Mandir Cinema, director Sooraj Barjatya shared a touching anecdote from the release of his debut film, “Maine Pyar Kiya” (1989). He recalled visiting Raj Mandir during the film’s screening and feeling anxious about the audience’s reception. The projectionist reassured him by saying, “Aapka hero hit hai, aapka kabootar hit hai” (Your hero is a hit, your pigeon is a hit). Barjatya conveyed this positive feedback to Salman Khan, the film’s lead actor, signaling the movie’s success.