Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 10, 2014)

For almost 15 years Sanjay Leela Bhansali has nurtured a dream—to make a film on Peshwa Bajirao and his ladylove Mastani. Finally, it seems the search for the lead pair is half over. Buzz is that Bhansali has got his Bajirao in his Devdas.

He had conceptualised the project with his Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam pair and then real-life sweethearts Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead. But, with the end of the love affair, Bhansali had no option but to put his dream project on hold.

The latest is that Shah Rukh Khan, who worked with Bhansali in Devdas (2002), has been roped in for the role. According to a source close to the film, SRK has consented in principle to do the film.

The relationship between SRK and Bhansali was cordial till Om Shanti Om and Saawariya clashed at the box-office in 2007. A war of words ensued and things turned bitter. So much so, that the two stopped speaking to each other. However, the ice started melting when the two shared the stage during the poster release of Bela Sehgal's film Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012). After the event, Bhansali even took SRK to his new office where the two reminisced about the good old days and talks of a collaboration resurfaced. After that Bhansali got busy with Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela and even approached Ajay Devgn to play Bajirao. But one day, on the sets of Ram-Leela, SRK dropped by and while talking to Bhansali showed keen interest in playing Bajirao. The first schedule of Bajirao Mastani is likely to kick off in July/ August. Said the source, “Bhansali wants the first schedule in the rains. The pre-production work on the film has kicked off.” The film will roll with a humongous budget, which could probably be the highest in Bollywood till date. SRK’s company Red Chillies Entertainment might co-produce the film with Bhansali. 
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Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; January 10, 2014)


Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s dream project Bajirao Mastani is finally about to take off after 14 years. He first spoke about it in 1999, after which the fallout between his lead pair - Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai – stalled work on the film. Bhansali then wanted to replace Ash with Kareena Kapoor but that didn’t happen either. Instead, he went on to make Devdas and Black, following which there were rumours about him casting casting Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya as the lead pair.

Sources in the industry say that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has now signed Shah Rukh Khan for it. The historical drama, based on the life of Peshwa Bajirao and his ladylove Mastani, has seen several casting changes and has never really taken off.

A source from the industry tells HitList, "After his film Ram-leela released in November 2013, Bhansali has now started work on his next production, Bajirao Mastani. He wants to begin shooting in April 2014, but the film’s scale is such that it needs extensive pre- production work."

There are also rumours that Bhansali is keen to cast Deepika Padukone opposite Shah Rukh in the film with Katrina Kaif playing Bajirao's wife Kashibai. “Bhansali has just worked with Deepika, so he might cast her again in this one. He is in talks with both Deepika and Katrina,” adds the source.