Bollywood has seen many films with dazzling casts sink without a trace but few examples are as curious as Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke. Released in 2001 the film carried enough star wattage to fill a poster wall. Madhuri Dixit Preity Zinta and Ajay Devgn shared the spotlight. Yet despite the promise the film collapsed at the box office. Years later the story behind its failure still makes film buffs raise an eyebrow.
The project was envisioned as a commercial entertainer that would recreate the beloved Madhuri Dixit–Karisma Kapoor pairing from Dil To Pagal Hai. But right at the start the plan fell through. Karisma Kapoor was the first choice for the role eventually played by Preity Zinta but she was not convinced by the part and opted out. By the time Preity stepped in the film’s momentum had already begun to wobble.

Was the timing the biggest villain?
If there was one factor that sealed the film’s fate it was its timing. Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke was released alongside Aamir Khan’s Dil Chahta Hai a film that not only broke the mould but also became a cult classic. Where Dil Chahta Hai soared Deepak Shivdasani’s film barely lifted off the ground. As audiences drifted toward the freshness of Aamir’s breezy slice-of-life drama Ajay Devgn’s double-role thriller struggled to draw viewers.

Did the long delay dilute the buzz?
Another lesser-known truth is that the film’s release was delayed by nearly three years. According to IMDb its songs were launched as early as 1998 but the film itself finally reached cinemas in 2001. Such a long gap was rare in that era and it hurt the film’s relevance. By the time it hit theatres the music which had initially created some chatter had lost its charm.

Casting choices that raised eyebrows
Even Madhuri Dixit’s star power couldn’t salvage the film. Viewers also found certain casting decisions distracting. A notable example is Smita Jaykar who played Madhuri’s mother in the film. The two actresses are reportedly barely three years apart in age. The mismatch stood out onscreen and audiences didn’t take kindly to the forced pairing.

Cameos and trivia that couldn’t save the day
The film even featured a cameo by Sunny Deol and the writing team included names like Robin Bhatt Kader Khan and Akash Khurana. But despite these elements the narrative failed to strike a chord. The makers had aimed to recreate magic but what eventually reached the screen felt mismatched and outdated.
Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke tried to blend romance drama and suspense yet it stumbled at every turn. What was meant to be a star-studded winner turned into one of 2001’s biggest disappointments proving once again that sometimes even the brightest names cannot guarantee box office success.