Ayushmann Khurrana: 'Yeh Prem Mol Liya' is a film for Bharat, not India
Synopsis
Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Bharat vs India' framing at the Yeh Prem Mol Liya title track launch is a deliberate positioning play — Sooraj Barjatya's films have always targeted the heartland, and with Himesh Reshammiya returning after a decade, this Rajshri Productions musical is betting big on nostalgia and mass-appeal melody ahead of its 27 November 2026 release.
Key Takeaways
Ayushmann Khurrana described Yeh Prem Mol Liya as 'a film for Bharat, not India' at the title track launch on 21 September 2026 in Mumbai .
Himesh Reshammiya is reuniting with director Sooraj R.
Barjatya after 10 years , their last collaboration being Prem Ratan Dhan Payo .
Reshammiya has reportedly composed seven songs for the film, with music central to the story.
Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari are sharing screen space for the first time in this film.
The film is produced by Rajshri Productions in association with Mahaveer Jain Films and is set for release on 27 November 2026 .
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has described director Sooraj R. Barjatya's upcoming musical family entertainer Yeh Prem Mol Liya as 'a film for Bharat, not India' — invoking the cultural identity that has long defined Barjatya's filmmaking. The remarks came at the title track launch event held in Mumbai on 21 September 2026, where composer Himesh Reshammiya delivered a live performance that drew widespread praise from the cast.
Ayushmann on the Film's Identity
Speaking at the event, Ayushmann Khurrana credited the Barjatya-Reshammiya collaboration as the bridge between the film and its intended heartland audience. He recalled his initial scepticism about the title, saying he had wondered — as had many on social media — why the film was called Yeh Prem Mol Liya. That doubt dissolved, he said, the moment Barjatya played the title track for him.
Ayushmann said: 'Kamaal ki baat ye hain ki Himesh ji emotion samajhte hain aur mass ko samajhte hain... Ye title itna unique hai, ye India ki nahi ye Bharat ki film hain. Aur ye Bharat tak isliye pahochegi kyu ki isme collaboration hain between Sooraj Barjatya and Himesh Reshammiya.' (The title is so unique. This is not just a film for India, it is a film for Bharat. And it will reach Bharat because of the collaboration between Sooraj Barjatya and Himesh Reshammiya.)
Reshammiya Reunion with Barjatya After 10 Years
The music launch marks a significant reunion: Himesh Reshammiya is collaborating with Sooraj R. Barjatya for the first time in 10 years, following their previous partnership on Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Reshammiya has reportedly composed seven songs for the film, with music described as central to the narrative rather than incidental to it.
Co-lead Sharvari spoke warmly of the experience, noting how Reshammiya's lyrics helped her connect with her character. 'Hamesha se mai lyrics sunn ke kirdaar mein zyada pahochti thi,' she said, adding: 'It is such an honour that we are able to do this on your song.' She and Ayushmann are sharing screen space for the first time in this film.
About the Film
Yeh Prem Mol Liya is directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and produced by Rajshri Productions in association with Mahaveer Jain Films. The film is positioned as a Himesh Reshammiya musical — a genre marker that underscores how integral the soundtrack is to the storytelling. The fresh pairing of Ayushmann and Sharvari is being highlighted as one of the film's key draws.
The film is slated for a theatrical release on 27 November 2026. This comes amid a resurgence in family entertainers at the Indian box office, a space Barjatya has historically dominated with films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
What to Watch
With the music launch generating early buzz and the Barjatya-Reshammiya partnership carrying nostalgia for multiplex and single-screen audiences alike, all eyes will be on how the film's full album shapes the pre-release campaign. The 27 November 2026 release date places it in a competitive festive-adjacent window.
Point of View
But it also exposes a real tension in Barjatya's brand: heartland appeal built on diaspora nostalgia. Reshammiya's return after a decade is the strongest signal yet that this film is chasing the same emotional real estate as Prem Ratan Dhan Payo — a film that worked commercially but was seen as a relic by urban critics. Whether Ayushmann, whose audience has traditionally been urban multiplex-goers, can genuinely cross over into the Bharat the marketing is invoking remains the film's most interesting open question.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Yeh Prem Mol Liya release in theatres?
Yeh Prem Mol Liya is scheduled for a theatrical release on 27 November 2026. The film is directed by Sooraj R. Barjatya and produced by Rajshri Productions in association with Mahaveer Jain Films.
Who are the lead actors in Yeh Prem Mol Liya?
The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari in the lead roles. This is the first time the two are sharing screen space together.
What did Ayushmann Khurrana mean by calling it a film for Bharat?
Ayushmann Khurrana said the film's unique title and the collaboration between Sooraj Barjatya and Himesh Reshammiya give it a mass cultural resonance rooted in India's heartland, as opposed to urban multiplex audiences. He used the 'Bharat vs India' distinction to highlight its broad, traditional appeal.
How many songs has Himesh Reshammiya composed for the film?
Reshammiya has reportedly composed seven songs for Yeh Prem Mol Liya. Music is described as central to the film's narrative, and it has been billed as a 'Himesh Reshammiya musical.'
When did Himesh Reshammiya and Sooraj Barjatya last work together?
Himesh Reshammiya and Sooraj Barjatya previously collaborated on Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Yeh Prem Mol Liya marks their reunion after 10 years.
