Pooja Bhatt almost quit acting, rejected Aashiqui to become a good girlfriend. How did Mahesh Bhatt react after her uncle said, 'Beti pagal ho gayi hai'?

In 1990, Mahesh Bhatt directed Aashiqui, a romantic musical that went on to become one of Bollywood's biggest blockbusters. Over the years, the filmmaker has revealed that the love story between Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal's characters was inspired by his own relationship with Lorraine Bright, later known as Kiran Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt's mother. But what many may not know is that Pooja Bhatt was originally offered the lead role in the film. At just 17, she turned it down. What happened next?

Why Pooja Bhatt rejected Aashiqui

Speaking on Cyrus Broacha's YouTube show Cyrus Says, Pooja Bhatt recalled that she was the first choice for Aashiqui. She remembered producer Mukesh Bhatt, her paternal uncle, arriving at her home with her signing amount, expecting her to come on board for the film.

However, Pooja had already made up her mind. She said she wanted to step away from acting because she was in love at the time and believed her boyfriend would not be comfortable dating an actress.


Looking back, Pooja clarified that her then-boyfriend never directly asked her to quit films. In fact, she said he remains one of her closest friends today and does not even remember that phase. According to her, the decision came from her own desire to be what she described as a "good girlfriend."

"I was trying to be the good girlfriend and the sacrificial lamb and I said I am not going to do movies anymore," she added

How Mahesh Bhatt reacted after hearing the news

Pooja revealed that Mukesh Bhatt was shocked by her decision and immediately informed Mahesh Bhatt. Recalling the moment, she said her uncle told her father, ""Beti pagal ho gayi hai, na bol rahi hai film ko (Your daughter has gone crazy; she is saying no to the film)," expressing disbelief that she had refused such a big film.

She said her father's response was unforgettable. According to Pooja, Mahesh Bhatt was extremely upset and warned her that she was making the biggest mistake of her life. She remembered him telling her that, "He said the destination might not be certain, but the flight is guaranteed, and you have no idea that you are making the biggest mistake of your life."

The disagreement affected their relationship for a while. Pooja shared that Mahesh Bhatt did not speak to her for nearly two weeks after she rejected Aashiqui. She also recalled that when her name appeared in the credits of her debut film Daddy, her father sarcastically applauded, making it clear that he was still disappointed with her earlier decision.

How Pooja Bhatt found her way back to films

Although she had decided to leave acting, Pooja's perspective changed after she visited the sets of Aashiqui. Watching the film being made made her realise that cinema was where she truly belonged.

She eventually returned to acting and built a successful career in Bollywood. One of her biggest breakthroughs came with Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, in which she starred opposite Aamir Khan. The romantic drama went on to become one of the most loved films of the early 1990s and firmly established her as a leading actress.

Today, Aashiqui remains one of Hindi cinema's most iconic love stories.