[14] It features Akshay Kumar as the titular character, while Manushi Chhillar makes her Hindi film debut by playing the role of Sanyogita.

The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood, Manav Vij, Ashutosh Rana and Sakshi Tanwar in other pivotal roles.

[15] Principal photography began in Jaipur on 15 November 2019, but was suspended in March 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, due to which the film was indefinitely postponed.

The story then shifts back a few years in Kannauj where princess, Sanyogita, Jayachand's daughter, is in love with Prithviraj Chauhan who is ruling Ajmer.

This act angers Ghori and he decides to attack Ajmer if Prithviraj does not send Hossain back to him.

As Ghori's army is approaching Delhi, Sanyogita and other Rajput women perform jauhar (mass suicide by immolation).

The film ends with a note that Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan was the last Hindu ruler of Delhi before the Islamic conquest and rule in India for nearly 565 years (1192-1757).

[21][failed verification] The film's official announcement was made on Kumar's 52nd birthday (9 September 2019), with a motion poster released on social media.

[23] In November 2019, Manushi Chhillar was confirmed to play the role of Sanyogita, Prithviraj's love interest, making her Bollywood debut and replacing Rai.

[26] Principal photography commenced on 15 November 2019 with a puja ceremony[32] at Jamwaramgarh, Jaipur, Rajasthan, and a song was shot in January 2020, but the filming was stopped in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus lockdown in India ordered by the Indian government, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[33][failed verification] Ahead of the 2020 monsoon season, the sets created in Rajasthan were taken down because the cost of maintaining them during the coronavirus lockdown was too high.

With no filming expected to take place before the monsoon season, the two sets erected in Dahisar – one of a palace and one of an arena made for an action sequence – were destroyed.

Films certified U/A contain moderate adult themes, that is not strong in nature and can be watched by a child below 12 years of age under parental guidance.

The Hindi word haran (translation: abduct) was replaced with waran (select); Nana with sage; kabza (occupation) with hamla (attack); and antim (last) with mahaan (great).

[42] In February 2022, the Delhi High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rashtriya Pravasi Parishad, after the petitioner asked for a withdrawal.

[27] The film was scheduled to release in theatres on 21 January 2022 in 2D[48] and IMAX,[b] but postponed due to spread of Omicron variant.

[51] Finally, film was theatrically released on 3 June 2022 in Hindi and dubbed versions of Tamil and Telugu languages only.

[13] After the poor performance theatrically, YRF planned to recover some of the production costs by releasing the film early on Amazon Prime Video, for streaming.

[63] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "A historical drama of this magnitude needed more than just a big budget.

[64] Anuj Kumar reviewing for The Hindu wrote "Director Chandraprakash Dwivedi's film seeks to revive cultural nationalism, but doesn't serve the purpose of those who wish to reap the past for a political harvest".

[65] Tanul Thakur of The Wire in his review said, "There's absolutely no sense of character or plot progression throughout – people seem like tacky mission statements; subplots are heaps of propagandistic infomercials.

[67] A critic for Pinkvilla rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Samrat Prithviraj is strictly an average affair, with a rather flat screenplay.

The historical is primarily watchable due to three strong sequences:The opening act, the intermission block, and the finale, but the brave Indian warrior deserved a better film.

[68] Nairita Mukherjee of India Today rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "If Bollywood's fate rests on Samrat Prithviraj, the future is blank".

[69] Rachana Dubey of The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Samrat Prithviraj is a well-performed and well-directed family drama.

[70] Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "It's fondly trying to recreate a time when everything was just and honourable, while also showing that it"s our own disunity which allowed the invaders to step in".

[72] Bohni Bandyopadhyay of News 18 rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar starrer evokes sentiments of patriotism and Rajput valour, trying to recreate the dramatic love story of Samrat Prithviraj and princess Sanyogita".

[73] Deepa Gahlot of Rediff rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Akshay Kumar plays the part with enthusiasm, like he was just waiting to get into the costume of a historical hero".

Some criticised the movie being made under the BJP government to paint India's Muslim minorities as outsiders and cruel invaders.