Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela featured the crackling on-screen chemistry of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, which went on to become one of the film’s biggest highlights and marked the beginning of their real-life relationship. Priyanka Chopra, meanwhile, stole the show with her special appearance in the chartbuster track Ram Chahe Leela. However, in an old interview, late legendary choreographer Saroj Khan revealed that this was not the original song planned by the makers and that last-minute changes had to be made after Salman Khan objected to it.
Salman Khan made Bhansali scrap song
In an old interaction in 2013 with Talking Cinema, Saroj Khan shared that the song originally intended to be picturised on Priyanka Chopra was titled Thappad Se Dar Nahi Lagta, Lagta Hai Pyaar Se. However, since the title closely resembled the iconic dialogue from Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Dabangg, the actor reportedly raised an objection. Following this, the song was scrapped from the film.
Speaking about the same, Saroj had said, “For Ram Leela, I was called to choreograph the song which featured Priyanka Chopra. I spent 10 days creating and recording the choreography for the song, and I choreographed steps like putting the blouse button, putting the handkerchief at the waist, and the gesture of drying the hair. All this was picturised, but I was asked to stop the rehearsals after 10 days. Before this, the song was called Thapada Se Dar Nahi lagta, Lagta Hai Pyaar Se. After 10 days of rehearsing for the song, I was told to stop because Salman Khan didn’t like the fact that we had taken this line from his film Dabangg.”
Saroj Khan accused Bhansali of not paying her
Further during the interview, Saroj Khan claimed that she was never paid for the 10 days she spent working on the song. She alleged that despite investing considerable time in creating and rehearsing the choreography, the project was eventually shelved and she was left uncompensated.
“They told me that they have to scrap this song, but they told me that they will call me when they will compose another song. They didn’t pay me for those 10 days for which I worked on the song. They didn’t even call me back to choreograph the new song and they asked somebody else to choreograph it. However, they took all the movements that I choreographed and they had recorded in a video and kept it in the song.”
Saroj further alleged that several of the dance movements she had conceptualised for the original version of the song were ultimately retained in the final track, despite her not being involved in its choreography. The song was ultimately choreographed by Vishnu Deva.
About Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela
Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela was written and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who also composed the film’s original soundtrack. The movie starred Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles, alongside a strong ensemble cast including Supriya Pathak, Richa Chadha, Sharad Kelkar, Gulshan Devaiah, Barkha Bisht Sengupta, and Abhimanyu Singh.