Brij Katyal's script was turned down by three top producers, including Sholay (1975) creator N.N. Sippy. However, director Suraj Prakash felt it was a beautiful story and accepted it. It went on to become his greatest hit film.
To prepare for his role as Raja, Shashi Kapoor would spend days with the boatmen in Kashmir to study their lifestyle. Sometimes, he would even have meals with them.
Director Suraj Prakash and actor Shashi Kapoor made a bet: Prakash said the film would run for 25 weeks and Kapoor, eight weeks. Whoever proved to be right would present the other a suit stitched at Burlington's. Prakash won the bet and presented the suit to Kapoor; however, each proved to be wrong, as the film ran for 50 weeks and celebrated its golden jubilee.
While on location in Srinagar, a Lieutenant Colonel from Maharashtra became smitten with Nanda Karnataki and asked Suraj Prakash to forward a marriage proposal to her mother. Nothing came of it, however.