Tere Naam and Wanted (2009) had various things in common: Salman Khan and Sarfaraz Khan both acted in those films.; Salman Khan portrayed a macho character.; Salman Khan's name is Radhe and Sarfaraz Khan's name is Aslam on both.; The protagonist loses his dear one(s) in both the movies: (Lover in Tere Naam; Father and foster brother in Wanted). both movies were career reviving movies for Salman Khan after a series of flops.
The film was based on a real life incident of a friend of the films writer Bala, who had fallen in love, lost his mind and ended up at a mental asylum.
The advance booking for Tere Naam was the best ever in five years.
It was widely perceived that the storyline is about what transpired between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai during their infamous affair. As if faith determined it, various posters of Aishwarya's future husband, Abhishek Bachchan are present throughout the entire movie.
Tere Naam was Salman Khan's first major hit since Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). Most of his releases from 2000 to 2002 were box office bombs or had unimpressive box collections.