You remember the hype. It was 2015, Diwali was around the corner, and the air in India felt different. Why? Because the "Prem" we grew up with was coming back. For sixteen years, Salman Khan hadn't worked with Sooraj Barjatya. Their last outing was Hum Saath-Saath Hain in 1999. Then came Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
People expected another Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and instead, they got something that felt like a Shakespearean drama mixed with a Disney fairytale. It was weird. It was grand. Honestly, it was a massive risk that most people still don't fully understand.
The Prem Ratan Dhan Payo Gamble: Why Sooraj Barjatya Went Dark
Most Rajshri films are about weddings and singing together at the dinner table. This one? It starts with an assassination attempt. You've got a prince, Yuvraj Vijay Singh, who is basically a cold, lonely billionaire living in a fortress. He's hated by his half-brother, Ajay (played by a very intense Neil Nitin Mukesh), and estranged from his sisters.
It’s not your typical "happy family" vibe.
Then you have the other Salman. Prem Dilwale. He’s a stage actor from Ayodhya who happens to look exactly like the prince. He’s the classic Barjatya Prem—sweet, a bit goofy, and obsessed with values. When the prince is injured in a "planned" carriage accident, the royal dewan (Anupam Kher) swaps him with the commoner Prem to keep the coronation on track.
Basically, it's The Prisoner of Zenda but with more dancing.
That Insane Budget: 15 Crore for Just Lights?
If the movie looked expensive, that’s because it was. We aren't just talking about fancy costumes. The production designer, the late Nitin Chandrakant Desai, built a "Sheesh Mahal" (Palace of Mirrors) that was inspired by the one in Mughal-e-Azam.
Reports at the time suggested the lighting alone cost around 15 crore.
Think about that. Some entire Bollywood movies are made for less than what Barjatya spent on lightbulbs. The set for the royal palace of Pritampur was spread across 100,000 square feet. It wasn't just CGI; these were physical, opulent structures. The makers wanted the audience to feel the "royalty," and they certainly didn't hold back the checkbook.
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The Casting Carousel
Did you know Sonam Kapoor wasn't the first choice? Rumors swirled for months. Names like Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor were in the mix. Eventually, Sonam landed the role of Rajkumari Maithili.
It was a strange pairing on paper. Salman and Sonam had a huge age gap, and they’d previously appeared together in Saawariya where he played a sort of mentor figure. But in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, they had to sell a romance. It worked for some; it felt "off" for others.
The Music That Divided the Internet
Himesh Reshammiya was the man behind the tunes. This was a big deal because Barjatya usually went with someone more "traditional" like Raamlaxman. Salman actually recommended Himesh because he felt Himesh and Sooraj would vibe over their shared love for old-school melodies.
They ended up with a soundtrack that felt like it was plucked straight from the 90s.
- The Title Track: It became a viral sensation. Every influencer (before "influencer" was even a common word) was doing the signature step.
- Jalte Diye: A classic romantic ballad that showcased the scale of the sets.
- Prem Leela: The high-energy introduction for the "commoner" Prem.
T-Series reportedly bought the music rights for 17 crore, which was a record-breaking deal at the time. It was a massive financial success before the first show even aired.
Box Office: A "Hit" That People Call a "Flop"
There is a weird narrative that Prem Ratan Dhan Payo didn't do well. That’s factually wrong. It opened to a staggering 40 crore on day one. By the end of its run, it had grossed over 430 crore worldwide.
So why the mixed reputation?
It’s because of the expectations. Coming after Bajrangi Bhaijaan, people wanted another masterpiece. What they got was a 164-minute family epic that felt a bit "dated" to the urban youth. Critics were harsh. They called it "saccharine" and "slow." But in small towns and among family audiences, the movie was a juggernaut. It proved that the "Prem" brand still had legs, even in a changing Bollywood landscape.
What Sooraj Barjatya Thinks Now
Interestingly, in recent years, Sooraj Barjatya has been quite candid about the film. In interviews leading up to 2025, he admitted that he would change the climax if he could. He felt it was a bit too "action-heavy" and lacked the grace he usually aims for.
He’s currently working on new projects, and while there were talks of a reunion with Salman for a film called Prem Ki Shaadi, that project was shelved or put on hold because the script wasn't "perfect" yet. Barjatya is a perfectionist; he only moves when the heart of the character is clear.
The Legacy of the "Last Traditional Epic"
In a way, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo was the last of its kind. We don't see many big-budget, "U" rated, non-violent (mostly), family-first dramas anymore. Everything now is either a spy universe or a gritty thriller.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Cinephiles
If you're planning to revisit the film or are curious about the "Prem" phenomenon, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the dual roles: Pay attention to how Salman differentiates the body language. Prince Vijay is stiff and cold; Prem Dilwale is fluid and expressive. It's subtle but effective.
- Look at the craft: Don't just watch the story. Look at the mirror work in the Sheesh Mahal. It represents a level of craftsmanship that is increasingly replaced by green screens today.
- The Soundtrack Context: Listen to the songs as an homage to the 90s. They aren't trying to be "modern." They are trying to be timeless.
- Understand the "Sooraj-Salman" Bond: This film wasn't just a business transaction. It was two old friends trying to recapture their youth.
If you want to see where the "Prem" saga began, go back to Maine Pyar Kiya. But if you want to see what happens when that innocence meets a massive budget and a more complex world, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is the one to study. It remains a fascinating anomaly in Salman Khan's filmography—a movie that chose heart over "coolness" at a time when Bollywood was moving in the opposite direction.
Whether you love the "Payo Ji Maine Ram Ratan" vibes or find them too cheesy, you can't deny the sheer scale of the vision. It was the end of an era. And honestly? We might never see a movie quite like it again.