Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; June 26, 2020)

Mumbai: Film and television bodies finally settled their long-pending issues on Thursday and decided to resume shooting with immediate effect after Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), Cine And TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) and Indian Film and TV Producers’ Council (IFTPC) agreed to provide members two sets of Coronavirus insurance — a death cover of Rs 25 lakh and a hospitalization cover of Rs 2 lakh — as well as a reduction in the credit cycle for TV cast and crew from 90 days to 30 days for at least the first three months.

Even as cameras start rolling again with a scaled-down cast and crew and preventive measures, not everyone might be able to ride the wave, especially productions too big to accommodate massive staff, elaborate sets, and complex costumes and makeup.

After all, turbaning up to play Razia Sultan or twirling up Peshwa Bajirao’s moustache is not a one-person job. Period dramas are called costume dramas for a reason. When it comes to mythologies and historical dramas, the fold in a garment, details in the eye of a goddess or the shape of a scar are just as important as the storytelling.

The bag of tricks that makeup and hair artistes step into the green room with, to interpret a period through the look of each character, will now have to be reimagined given the social distancing norms laid down by the culture ministry that recommend actors do their own makeup and hair as well as trials and fittings at home.

Other than mythology, the small screen is flooded with fantasy and supernatural shows, most of which rely on latex, rubber, blood and prosthetics and can be nearly impossible to DIY under the current safety guidelines. “Costume dramas will take at least two or three months more to return to the floors since it is a complex affair. One-fourth of a day is invested in just getting a character ready,” says Sunjoy Wadhwa, founder, Sphereorigins, which made the historical drama Peshwa Bajirao.

Grand set constructions and a cast of hundred extras can be a challenge too in the wake of migrant exodus.

“Forty per cent of our junior artistes and second line of workers— lightmen, spotboys, makeup and set design artistes—who comprise the workforce for epics and historical sagas have gone to their hometowns,” said Ashoke Pandit, president of Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association.

But there’s always the trusted spectrum of computer-aided visual methods to fall back on. “Costume dramas use panoramic views. So, it is possible to widen the camera lens and shoot against a green screen for special effects,” says Wadhwa. Contiloe Pictures that pioneered historical and mythological shows on Indian TV, including 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897, Jhansi ki Rani, Mahayoddha Rama and Vighnaharta Ganesh, is leaning on tech solutions to create crowds and geographies. “The situation gives us an impetus to innovate and explore a new language in the genre,” says Abhimanyu Singh, founder, Contiloe.

While television channels had once taken a gamble with these shows with budgets far higher than regular soaps, it may not pay off as it did in the past with advertising revenues on a downslide and broadcasters asking for budget cuts. “Technology is expensive and will push costs up but it’s about survival. We will have to start on a small scale, not get ambitious about grandeur,” says Dharmesh Shah, an old hand at directing period dramas like Shakuntala, Veer Shivaji, and Siya Ke Raam. “Shooting in studio sets outside city limits would help isolate a unit and reduce transmission risk.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali hopes to appease them with a disclaimer
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 5, 2015)

On Friday, the descendants of Bajirao Peshwa and Mastani Baisaheb held a joint press conference in Mumbai to put forward their objections to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming periodromance, Bajirao Mastani.

"Cinematically, it may be beautiful, but if both Bajirao and Mastani's families are objecting to certain things then Bhansali should hear us out. But he refuses to meet us, hasn't replied to any of our letters or returned our calls. There should be a screening for both the families before the release and everything that is wrong with the film should be corrected," Udaysinh Peshwa, the patriarch of the Peshwa family and a descendent of Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa told Mirror.

The objections have been forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Culture Mahesh Sharma, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and CBFC Chairperson, Pahlaj Nihalani demanding the government reviews the film, studies the alteration of historical facts in the depiction of the Peshwa and his wives and takes a decision on the release.

"We cannot accept the way the protagonists have been portrayed in the songs. It's embarrassing and will bring a bad name to the community. The "Malhari" song has Bajirao dancing to poorly worded lyrics. We want the song cut out," Udaysinh demanded.

They have also objected to "Pinga"arguing that "it is impossible for ranis to dance like this". They pointed out that Bajirao's love for Kashi didn't lessen after he married Mastani and he was no superman to jump on an elephant's trunk to cut a man's throat as seen in the trailer. Bajirao pouring water on Kashibai too is a "very private" moment.

The Peshwa descendants had visited the sets earlier and had no issues then. Now, Awais Bahadur Nawab Sahab, descendant of Mastani Baisaheb, doesn't think Ranveer Singh resembles Bajirao or a commander who fought for the freedom of the Marathas.

"Bhansali cannot tarnish someone's image to make money," he said, while Shrimant Sardar Satyasheelraje Dabhade, descendant of Sarsenapati Umabaisaheb Khanderao Dabhade, commander-in-chief of the Maratha regime during Bajirao's reign, states that the Dabhade family and Mastani's descendents strongly object to two dialogues - "Bajirao ne Mastani se mohabbat ki hai" and "Aapne humse jaan mangi hoti to de dete, par aapne to humse humara guroor cheen liya."

Mirror has been told that Bhansali Productions will be carrying a disclaimer at the beginning of the film stating that "all characters appearing in this work are fictitious, any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental".

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 20, 2015)

The cast and crew of Bajirao Mastani, who have been shooting at a breakneck speed to meet the pre- Christmas release deadline, decided to kick back on Tuesday. It was the 315th birth anniversary of Maratha warrior Bajirao Peshwa I and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had organised a lavish lunch for the 12th generation descendants of the Peshwa ruler.

A source says, “Bhansali wanted to introduce his cast and crew to the descendants of the Peshwa lineage. He had met them as part of research for his period drama and was keen to see them again. Though he and his team have been working on a tight schedule, he decided to set aside one day to celebrate Bajirao’s birth anniversary with the members of the royal family, who accepted his invitation and came here from Pune.” The cake cutting ceremony film’s detailing unit has and at visit release,” special have us of we celebration.” was followed by a vegetarian lunch. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, who play Bajirao and Mastani respectively in the historical opus, also interacted with the Peshwa family members.

“Thirteen from the family visited the set and were overwhelmed by Bhansali’s gesture. They were welcomed with garlands and given royal treatment. They were happy to meet the star cast and expressed that they liked the film’s teaser as well as the detailing of characters,” says a unit hand.

The Peshwa family, in turn, has now invited the filmmaker and his cast for a special lunch at their place in Pune. “We will visit them prior to the film’s release,” adds the insider.

Deepika says, “It was a special occasion for all us to have the Peshwa family amidst us on the birth anniversary of the great warrior. I am glad we were all together in this celebration.”

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.