Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an Indian filmmaker, producer and music composer, who is known for his work in Hindi films. He is the recipient of several awards, including 7 National Film Awards and 12 Filmfare Awards, in addition to a nomination for a BAFTA Award. In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award. Critically acclaimed for his use of aesthetics, musical vision and Period dramas, Bhansali is regarded as one of the best filmmakers of Indian cinema.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It was released internationally as Straight From the Heart. The film stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Aishwarya Rai. Based on Rashtriyashayar Jhaverchand Meghani's play "Shetal ne Kathe", the film narrates the story of a newlywed man who discovers that his wife is in love with another man and decides to unite them. The film has also been described as a loose adaptation of Maitreyi Devi's Bengali novel Na Hanyate, although the film itself does not credit it as a source.