Chopra conceived the film after his previous project, Khamosh (1985), struggled to find theatrical distribution. Determined to make a mainstream film with a "commercial" cast, he assembled a powerhouse team that included:
The film was shot on location in Mumbai, India, with a relatively modest budget. Mahesh Bhatt's direction and the cinematography by K.V. Raju contributed significantly to the film's visual aesthetic. parinda 1989
Before , the "Bombay underworld" in Hindi cinema was largely stylized. Villains wore suits in white gardens, and gangsters sang romantic ballads between murders. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, coming off the success of Khamosh (1985), wanted to shatter that glass ceiling. Chopra conceived the film after his previous project,