When Jaya Prada rejected Nagina and Harmesh worked with Sri instead, he was highly impressed by her talent and professionalism that he made her his own hero. He worked with other stars too but he never gave any star the scope he gave Sridevi! He even once said in an interview that Sridevi's flops make more money than other stars hits! That is why having Sridevi as a hero was always a win situation for him. During the launch of Heer Ranjha he said he never lost money when he worked with Sridevi. That itself says a lot.
This legendary love tale has been made many times in the Indian cinema. The version that was released in 1970 starring Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh was a huge success. Harmesh Malhotra remade this version. Sridevi was the perfect choice for playing Heer. However, the hero was a very challenging issue that faced the director. Harmesh Malhotra played it safe and chose Anil Kapoor to play Ranjha as he with Sridevi were considered a successful pair. Unfortunately Anil Kapoor was not the suitable choice here. The funny thing is that Anil himself considers this role to be one of his career's worst performances. But again who would have been suitable to play Ranjha then? We don't think any established actor would have been suitable and a new comer with Sridevi does not give equal balance to the film. So that was one of the biggest problems with the film.
The film music was top notch. Music Directors Laxmikant - Pyarelal composed some of the most melodious songs for this film. Their other hits that year were from Sridevi's other film Khuda Gawah. Songs like Rab ne banaya tujhe and Ranjha Ranjha were instant hits. Another enchanting music in the film is the background score, specially the title credits. It is so beautifully composed and pure delight to listen to. The background music serves the story and the overall theme of the film very well.
It is also worth to be noted that Sridevi's beautiful costumes and wardrobe for this film were entirely designed by herself! She excelled in choosing the right costumes that suited that period. Matching and mixing colors. Sri was always a fashion queen, a true fashionista and that showed in the film. If you watch the film today after 23 years her costumes are as beautiful as they used to be when the movie was released. Heer Ranjha is definitely one of Sridevi's most underrated films and goes as one of her beautiful performances.