Initially B.R.Chopra had signed Madhubala to play the female lead. She even completed a ten-day shooting schedule in Bombay. Subsequently when the unit was to move to an out-of-town shooting location (Bhopal) Madhubala's father, Ataullah Khan, refused to let her go citing health reasons. In actuality he didn't want to encourage the budding romance between Madhubala and Dilip Kumar, the male lead. When repeated reasoning failed to change Ataullah Khan's decision, B.R.Chopra dropped Madhubala and cast Vyjantimala instead. Ataullah Khan took the matter to court and Chopra was able to prove that the shooting in Bhopal was essential to the film. But the judgment had to wait till the movie was completed.
Dilip Kumar initially refused the lead role. However, his friend Ashok Kumar, who heard and loved the story, persuaded him to hear it and immediately he accepted the role.
Naya Daur was colorised and re-released in 2007.
The unusual concept was regarded as box-office poison by Subodh Mukherjee, Mehboob Khan and even Raj Kapoor. However, B.R. Chopra heard the tale, fell in love with it, and made a hit film out of it.
The songs from the film were inspired by the music of a Punjabi troupe who had performed at the 25th week celebrations of another B.R. film - Ek Hi Raasta (1956).