Paresh Rawal has long been a cherished name in Hindi cinema. With a career that has spanned decades, he has delighted audiences through his brilliant comic timing as well as strong antagonist roles. Whether it’s the hilarious Baburao in ‘Hera Pheri’ or his unforgettable performances in films like ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Chachi 420’, ‘Hungama’, ‘Garam Masala’, ‘Awara Paagal Deewana’, ‘Ready’ or ‘OMG’, Paresh has carved out a versatile and respected place in Bollywood.But behind all the fame is a love story that is as sweet and funny as some of his best films. It’s the story of how he fell in love with actress Swaroop Sampat – and didn’t speak to her for nearly a year!Love at first sight – but no wordsThe moment Paresh Rawal saw Swaroop Sampat for the first time, he knew she was the one. It happened at an Indian National Theatre festival where Swaroop was handing out brochures in a pink saree. Her father was the chief producer at the event. Paresh was there to perform with his college friends.Swaroop recalled the moment in an earlier interview with Bollywood Bubble and shared, “I was wearing a pink saree and I was handing out brochures. And Paresh walks in with his friend and he says, he is going to marry me. But you know he is so dumb, he didn’t talk to me for nearly a year.” Yes, she called him “dumb” for not talking to her for so long!Theatre and acting brought them closerParesh and Swaroop both had a strong love for acting and theatre. This common interest helped them get close once they finally started talking. Swaroop had always been a big fan of Paresh’s work and admired his stage performances.In a past chat with The Free Press Journal, she said that Paresh was serious from the beginning. He made it clear that he wouldn’t be in a relationship unless there were plans to get married. She said,“Even during our courtship days, Paresh was the possessive one. He would not like it if I paid attention to anyone else. But now, after many years of knowing each other, he is relatively chilled out.”A long wait before tying the knotParesh and Swaroop’s love story began in the 1970s, but they didn’t get married until 1987. They dated for 12 years before finally tying the knot. The reason for this long wait was quite simple – Paresh wanted to focus on building his career before getting married.Swaroop, on the other hand, had her own clear views. She didn’t want to elope with Paresh, as she was the only daughter in her family, born after many years. For her, marriage had to happen with her parents’ blessings and at the right time. Once Paresh’s career was stable and both of them were ready, they had an intimate wedding in 1987. After their marriage, Paresh and Swaroop welcomed two sons – Aditya Rawal and Aniruddh Rawal
