Bajirao Mastani was an idea that came to Sanjay Leela Bhansali soon after he finished Devdas. The script was ready in 2003. He tried to make it many times, once after Black, again after Guzaarish, but it didn't happen. Another filmmaker might have let the dream fade away, but he waited 12 years to picturise “Deewani Mastani“ which he'd composed in November 2002. Today, he is proud of his patience.

“Maybe it needed me to be older, wiser, more evolved as a filmmaker, for my hair to turn from back to grey,“ Sanjay laughs, pointing out that K Asif, Manmohan Desai and Muzzafar Ali had shelved their films on the subject. But growing up in a chawl on a diet of Marathi literature, cinema, food and music, for him it was a story which had to be told.

He's fascinated by the Peshwa who'd fought 140 wars and kept Shivaji's dream alive. Whose dilemma after falling in love could be that of an actor or even an aam aadmi, which he handled with dignity. For Sanjay love is the purest emotion a human being can feel. “I tell love stories more lovingly but I don't think you have to be in love to do so,“ he says, admitting it has been his most difficult film and he hasn't worked so hard in 20 years.

“For two years I haven't been to a restaurant or a film. I've been working 18 hours a day, full of anxiety and insecurity trying to achieve what I wanted even if it meant creating everything,“ he reveals, adding that for him creativity is cathartic. “I don't make films for money or to be known as a great entertainer. It's a part of a personal expression, I want to live every moment, every emotion with every character,“ he says passionately, the barks of his canine friend Pinto providing a concerto.

The too-long script has become more compact. And Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukerji have made way for Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. No complaints, his stars have been extremely committed with Ranveer staying bald for over a year. “Yes, I had wanted Salman but things didn't work out. We share a great bond and I know his good wishes are with me. He's beyond all this, has reached cult status,“ asserts Sanjay, admitting that he hasn't seen Prem Ratan Dhan Payo but wants to. “Sooraj (Barjatya) and Salman are my favourite combo and my dear Sonam (Kapoor) is in it.“

Dismissing rumours about a public spat with Salman he adds, “Today, I may not be working with him but I am indebted to Salman for all that he's done for me. If there's any reason for him to be upset, it has to do with me and not him. I've got so much love from my actors, including Aishwarya and Shah Rukh.“

SRK's upcoming film has come out of nowhere to clash with his Bajirao Mastani on December 18 but no grouses. Sanjay points out that they announced their release day when they started. After Shah Rukh's announcement, there was a discussion on how to avoid the clash. But both wanted the same Friday. “They are two different films and I wish both do well. Shah Rukh is a dear friend, I'm in touch with him more than any other actor. I know the intention is not to compete with or destroy us. This is no election campaign,“ he clarifies, with no hint of the infamous SLB temper.

Point this out and he laughs, “I no longer throw phones or scream. Only if something is not right on the set do I ask for an explanation. Grant me that much of passion, don't take that right away from me. Logon ne botal ki botal khatam ki to kuch na hua, hamne thodi si laga li to hungama ho gaya,“ he sighs.

So why the 'fight' with choreographer Remo D'Souza who walked out and returned to complete a song only after three days? Sanjay looks shocked, “Who told you that? Remo went off for a day to shoot his TV show which he was committed to. Filmmakers call him to choreograph western, contemporary songs, I gave him a Marathi folk song, “Pinga“, and I was so happy with his work, I called him again for “Deewani Mastani“. A period film if rightly made cannot go wrong.“

“Pinga“ is being compared to Devdas's “Dola Re Dola“. Sanjay insists he wasn't attempting anything similar. “For me “Pinga“ was a haldi kumkum song and I wanted some drama during the shoot. I wanted Deepika and Priyanka to shout at each other, fight over whose shot was better, who'd goofed up. But the sahelis sat and giggled together after the shot while I wished they were sitting at opposite ends, glaring,“ he guffaws.

He won't say if he's repeating his three actors in his next which starts in January. There's no need for a rejuvenating break, for Sanjay making a film is a vacation and he doesn't want to be away from a camera, frame, dialogue and actors for too long. “I have to make another 25 films, six are dream projects. I've made two - Black and Bajirao Mastani - four remain. I don't want to run out of time. I have to make them before I quit or I'll have to be born again which I wouldn't want,“ he says.

He won't divulge any details but admits he will be producing two-three films next year, one Bela Sehgal's directorial. He shares a great bond with his sister who took him to FTII, to Vinod Chopra and Salman Khan and edited all but his last three films. “I am what I am because of her. When Bela told me she was ready with her script, I immediately told her I'd produce it for her,“ he smiles.

He's equally close to his mother, Leela, who wonders which Bajirao Mastani song she should have as her caller tune and will interrupt him in the middle of a meeting to tell him what the RJ was saying about his film. “She thinks I'm the best son in world, the most good looking, who makes the best movies. She sees the first scene, song, trailer and the first cut,“ he says fondly.

She urged him to make Bajirao Mastani and now that's done, Sanjay wishes he'd made the poignant, subtly nuanced Partition drama, Garm Hava with Balraj Sahani. “But I couldn't have made it. Magic like that only happens once,“ he muses, saying he's influenced by Mehboob Khan, K Asif, V Shantaram and Raj Kapoor. And would like to remake one of his favourite RK films, Ram Teri Ganga Maili. “It's an epic concept of the Ganga flowing down from the hills into the world of corruption. What a vision, what language, what music! And still relevant,“ he raves, in awe of RK's artistry.

He was spotted in Paris sitting in front of the night club, Moulin Rouge working on a film script. The query makes him jump up, “Somebody followed me to Paris? Incredible! I'll have to disguise myself and go to the moon next. Yes, it's true. I went to Paris to direct an opera a month after Sawaariya. Chilling in MoMath, with Moulin Rouge below, rejuvenated me. Now, Paris has become a second home.“

He also admits that Aishwarya and he have met and he'd like to make another film with her. “But don't ask me what?“ he warns, happier to speak about being a part of Marathi cinema's resurgence. He's producing a Swapnil Joshi-Anjana Sukhani starrer and raves about a creative space that the audience values. “I also love Kolkata, Bengali language and music. I want to buy a house there and produce a Bengali film.“

As a producer he wants to make all kind of films he doesn't have time for or can't make, including a small budget film on a social cause. Is a Rowdy Rathore sequel coming up? He confirms the possibility revealing he grew up on films like Chor Machaye Shor and Fakira at Maratha Mandir, Imperial Cinema, Shalimar and Alankar Talkies. He relived the experience watching Rowdy Rathore at Chandan Cinema.“Money was flying, lines being repeated, people dancing to “Dhadang Dang Dang“. I couldn't hear “Pritam Pyaare“ because everyone was screaming. I would be incomplete as a filmmaker if I didn't make a Gabbar, Rowdy Rathore or a Bajirao Mastani. Don't be surprised if I make Rowdy Rathore 2 myself,“ he twinkles and refuses to say anything more.