Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are quizzed on why they perfectly fit the titular characters of their upcoming love saga Bajirao Mastani, which also stars Priyanka Chopra, Tanvi Azmi and Milind Soman. Excerpts...

What makes both of you the ideal choice for the characters of Bajirao and Mastani?
Deepika: Ranveer can smoothly adapt to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's process. Actors are often cast in parts because they naturally lend themselves to those characters. In this case, Ranveer's personality in real life is diametrically opposite. And yet, no other actor could've done justice to this role. Ranveer is malleable as an artiste. When I watch him on screen, I forget that it is him and get sucked into his character.
Ranveer: It was almost unsaid that Deepika would play Mastani. Thinking of anyone else was out of question. During the narration, her image flashed in my head from the minute Mastani made an entry into the story. Even before Sanjay sir told me he's casting Deepika, I knew it had to be her.

Are there any similarities between Deepika and Mastani?
Ranveer: Mastani was a killer warrior princess. Deepika had to be a badass, who is kicking some serious butt on the battlefield. Only she could've brought such intensity on screen. Besides the effortless action which was a physical requisite, her emotional qualities are similar to Mastani's. They are both strong and equally vulnerable, but mostly they're slaves of their hearts.

Which are your most memorable scenes?
Ranveer: There is a lengthy sequence in which Deepika gives a one-word response to a long speech delivered by me. The way she said that made me lose my flow. It came unexpectedly, loaded with such power that I was stunned. Sanjay sir saw it the next day and told Deepika, 'What you did yesterday will go down in cinema history'.
Deepika: One particular scene in which Ranveer cries is heartbreaking.

Produced by Eros International and Bhansali Productions, the film releases on December 18.