Upala KBR (DNA; September 19, 2016)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati was supposed to begin its first schedule last week, but it still hasn’t. According to a highly placed source, the reason for that is Ranveer Singh’s (he plays Alauddin Khilji in the film) condition: he’ll begin shooting only if the other actor in the film — Shahid Kapoor (he plays Rawal Ratan Singh) — is given a guest appearance billing.

No second fiddles
RS proposed, but SLB chose to dispose. The director cannot comply for two reasons, One, he has taken the same number of days from both actors. Shahid’s is not a cameo or a guest appearance, it is a parallel role. Two, he will leave the film if asked to take the guest appearance billing. Shahid accepted the role because it is on par with Ranveer’s. He won’t play second fiddle to anybody at this stage of his career.

Never again?
It may be recalled that Ranveer, who trusts SLB implicitly, previously asked him for a narration after Shahid came on board as Padmavati’s husband. The director is really annoyed with Singh, to whom he has given two huge hits (Goliyon Ki Raasleela — Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani) and feels the actor should be more accommodating and not be putting roadblocks in his way. Bhansali has told people close to him that he might never work with him ever again after Padmavati.

His own interests
While Sanjay feels that Ranveer should trust him and do the film no-questions-asked, the actor is simply looking after his own interest. He is at the top of his game today. He agreed to do a heroine-oriented film, and that too a negative role because of his ladylove Deepika and Bhansali at the helm. This is the first time in his career that he is playing a villain, and he doesn’t want to be sidelined, which is fair.

The workaround
It was difficult casting the role of Padmavati’s husband as he is seen as a weak character and so, not many actors were willing to play the role. Deepika wanted an A-List star to play her hubby. And that’s how Shahid came on board. Says a source close to the actress, “Now, Bhansali has asked Deepika to talk to Ranveer and convince him to start the film. Because the film will not move if Ranveer doesn’t come around.”

Meanwhile, Shahid is enjoying the delay in shooting because his paternity leave has gotten extended.