Sanjay Leela Bhansali is undoubtedly one of the greatest filmmakers that the world of cinema has ever seen. Often mentioned in the same league as Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt, Bhansali has several box-office hits to his credit, including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, which clocks 12 years.
As the fiery, passionate and visually stunning film completes 12 years, it continues to be celebrated for its grand storytelling, unforgettable chemistry between Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, powerful performances, and majestic Bhansali-style visuals. On the film’s anniversary, here are 12 interesting facts that make this epic even more memorable:
A Desi Romeo & Juliet
The film is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s bold “desi adaptation” of William Shakespeare’s classic novel, Romeo and Juliet, set in feuding Gujarati clans.
Special Training for Ranveer
To keep Ranveer Singh in shape and on schedule, Bhansali set up a gym on the Mumbai Film City set so he could work out between shots. Singh underwent a 12-week transformation – strict high-protein diet, no rice or sweets, and working out twice daily.
Bhansali the Composer
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali not only directed and wrote the film but also composed the entire original soundtrack, making it his second film where he took on the role of music director. All the songs turned out to be chartbusters and are popular even today.
Heavyweight Costume
Deepika Padukone wore a ghagra that weighed about 30 kg, with an enormous 50-metre “ghera” (flare) in some looks.
The Birth of “DeepVeer”
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela was the first film collaboration between the lead pair, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Their on-screen chemistry was instantly iconic, and they started dating during the film’s production.
Filming Trials & Water Sequences
One of the song sequences was shot in freezing cold water in Udaipur — Deepika was even injured on set but kept going, because reshoots would have derailed the schedule.
Costume Trials for “Tattad Tattad”
For the energetic “Tattad Tattad” number, Ranveer went through 30 costume trials before Bhansali suggested he just go shirtless to match the raw energy.
Real-Life Mother’s Name
The female lead character’s name, Leela, is an emotional nod, as it is also the name of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s own mother, Leela Bhansali.
The Song with a History
The popular dance song “Mor Bani Thanghat Kare” is based on an old, classic Gujarati folk song with lyrics written by the renowned Gujarati poet, Jhaverchand Meghani, back in 1941.
Star’s Special Appearance
The chartbuster item song “Ram Chahe Leela” featured a special appearance by actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
Epic Box Office Success
Made on a reported budget of around ₹80 crore, Ram-Leela crossed the ₹100 crore mark in just 10 days, becoming the first 100-cr hit for both Bhansali and Ranveer Singh. By the end of its run, the film collected around ₹ 116.33 crore domestically, making it the 4th highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2013.
Awards & Recognition
The film was highly acclaimed, winning numerous awards, including several Filmfare Awards, such as Best Actress for Deepika Padukone and Best Supporting Actress for Supriya Pathak.