Vasant Prakash began work as music director, but died having recorded just one song with Geeta Dutt. C. Ramchandra took over as composer and insisted not only that all songs be sung by Lata Mangeshkar but that the Geeta number be removed from the film. Although the Filmistan people agreed, the Geeta song stayed in the movie and was the famous "Aa Jaane Wafaa".
Before S.Mukherjee had started Anarkali, K.Asif's Mughal E Azam was already started but it was taking time and then also Kamaal Amrohi srarted a film with same subject with Meena Kumari, but then later, Kamaal Amrohi's film was shelved and he joined as a writer jn K.Asif's Mughal E Azam. S.Mukherjee started, completed and released his film Anarkali. Nasir Hussein had written Anarkali.
Nasir Hussein in those time, as script writer was working with S.Mukherjee and he wrote for Anarkali before becoming director with Tumsa Nahin Dekha.
Shammi Kapoor was signed for the film then dropped.
This film is considered one of music composer C.Ramchander's best work to date.