Filmmaker, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2015 film, Bajirao Mastani, is one of the most iconic films Bollywood has ever filmed. While Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone aced their roles in Bajirao Mastani, not many know that initially, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to cast Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Back then, reports were rife that Aishwarya walked out of the film as she didn't want to act with Salman, with whom she had parted ways.
An old video of Aishwarya Rai has now resurfaced on Reddit, wherein the actress opened up about why she did not sign the film, Bajirao Mastani. Speaking to Karan Johar on his chat show, Koffee With Karan, Aishwarya said that when she and Salman Khan did justice to their roles in the film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Sanjay was keen to cast them together. Sharing why things didn't work out, Aishwarya said:
“He (Sanjay) did see us working as the cast that he saw was ideal for the film. But circumstantially, I could not work with the kind of team he was looking at."
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Speaking along the same lines, Aishwarya Rai revealed that she was ready to play the role of 'Mastani', but she didn't want to act alongside her ex-flame, Salman Khan. However, she added that soon reports circulated in the media that Aishwarya walked out of Bajirao Mastani. Revealing that she was admitted to the hospital back then so she couldn't clear the air around the same, Aishwarya added:
“Well, I was game to play Mastani but not with the Bajirao he had in mind. So, this was evident probably nationally. The media made it out to be that Aishwarya walks out of Bajirao Mastani. We hadn’t communicated then because I was in hospital with my leg laid up."
To watch the video, click here.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali later went on to make the historical romance film, Bajirao Mastani with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. The film is still regarded as one of the biggest hits in Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s careers. Not just this, Bajirao Mastani went on to become the 11th highest-grossing movie in the Hindi film industry till date, as it earned more than Rs. 300 crores at the box office worldwide. While Ranveer Singh played the role of 'Peshwa Bajirao', Deepika Padukone was a warrior princess named 'Mastani'. The duo's love story set an example for generations to follow.
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Once in a media interaction, Sanjay Leela Bhansali opened up about his magnum opus, Bajirao Mastani, and revealed that it took him almost 12-13 years to make the film. Talking about the same, he shared how everything was already planned, and the film was ready to get released after Devdas, but it got shelved again and again. He added that though he felt extremely disappointed back then, the film was not destined to be made no matter how hard he had tried.
What are your views about Aishwarya Rai acting as 'Mastani' on screen?
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