For many movie lovers, Rajeev Verma will always be remembered as the warm and caring father figure from films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Biwi No. 1 and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. So convincing were his performances as Salman Khan's onscreen father that many people assumed he was related to the superstar in real life.However, beyond his successful acting career lies a lesser-known story. Rajeev Verma, who is married to Jaya Bachchan's sister Rita Verma, stepped away from Mumbai and the film industry despite enjoying a long and successful run in Bollywood. In a recent conversation on the DearGeneration podcast, the veteran actor opened up about his journey, his work with future stars, and the reasons that eventually made him leave the city behind.'When we made Maine Pyar Kiya, nobody knew Salman Khan'Looking back at Maine Pyar Kiya, Verma said people now associate the film entirely with Salman Khan's stardom. But according to him, things were very different when the movie was being made.The actor recalled that he was already a familiar face on television through popular shows such as Chunauti and Mujrim Haazir. Today, many people recognise him as Salman Khan's father from Maine Pyar Kiya, but at the time, Salman was just beginning his journey as a leading man.You Might Also Like:Verma pointed out that several members of the cast were also at important turning points in their careers. Bhagyashree was making her debut, while Reema Lagoo was appearing in her first Hindi film after building a successful career in Marathi cinema. Actors Ajit Vachani and Laxmikant Berde were also taking major steps in their film careers.The veteran actor said it is interesting to look back now because many of the people involved in the film later became household names.Worked with future stars before they became famousRajeev Verma also shared memories of working with actors who would eventually become some of Bollywood's biggest stars. He recalled that Akshay Kumar appeared with him in Deedar, a film that was released after Saugandh, which became Akshay's debut release. Karisma Kapoor was also part of the project. Similarly, Verma said one of Lara Dutta's earliest films was with him as well.You Might Also Like:Despite these associations, he never measured his success by the celebrity status of his co-stars. According to Verma, he was focused on his work rather than keeping track of who was becoming a star.For nearly ten years, he balanced acting assignments with a regular job. It was only in 1996 that he finally resigned from his profession and dedicated himself fully to acting. Even then, he believed that talent mattered more than fame and that good performers deserved equal respect whether they were stars or character actors.Over the years, he built an impressive filmography that included films such as Koi... Mil Gaya, Andaaz, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, Chalte Chalte and several television projects.Why Rajeev Verma left Bollywood and moved to BhopalWhile many actors spend their careers chasing bigger roles and greater visibility, Verma eventually found himself moving in the opposite direction.After the success of Maine Pyar Kiya, filmmakers began seeing him in a specific image. Because he had convincingly played a businessman and father figure, similar roles kept coming his way. Over time, he found himself repeating the same kind of characters."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.”The feeling stayed with him for years. Eventually, he realised he was missing out on important moments with family and friends. Weddings, family gatherings and simple everyday experiences had become rare because of the demands of work.He shared, "Five or six years ago, I returned to Bhopal. Even two or three years before that, I had begun feeling that acting had become routine and I was no longer enjoying it. Spending time with friends, attending weddings and family gatherings, enjoying life, all of that had become negligible. After a point, you start missing those things. You feel like spending time with your family, parents and friends." Today, he runs a small hotel, remains active in theatre and spends more time with loved ones.The actor said financial pressures are no longer a major concern because his children are settled. Instead of pursuing the constant hustle of the entertainment industry, he has chosen a quieter and more fulfilling lifestyle. Although he has not completely distanced himself from acting, Verma revealed that he has largely stopped taking up work in Mumbai and now prefers theatre and life in Bhopal.Rather than chasing more fame, Rajeev Verma chose peace of mind, family and personal happiness.