When Aishwarya Rai Said She Didn't Walk Out Of Bajirao Mastani: 'I Was Game But Not With The Bajirao...'

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2015 film Bajirao Mastani, featuring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in the lead became quite a sensation among the couple’s fans when it first released. However, there were reports alleging that the film was earlier offered to Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. An old video has now resurfaced on Reddit in which Aishwarya opens up about why she did not sign the film.

Speaking to Karan Johar on his chat show Koffee With Karan, Aishwarya said, “He (Sanjay) did see us working as the cast that he saw was ideal for the film. But circumstantially, I could not work with the kind of team he was looking at.”

“Well, I was game to play Mastani but not with the Bajirao he had in mind. So, this was evident probably nationally. The media made it out to be that Aishwarya walks out of Bajirao Mastani. We hadn’t communicated then because I was in hospital with my leg laid up,” she added.

Sanjay later went on to make the film with Ranveer and Deepika. Bajirao Mastani is one of the biggest hits in Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s careers. It went on to become the 11th highest-grossing Bollywood movie of all time, earning more than Rs. 300 crore at the global box office.

The historical romance saw Ranveer Singh play Peshwa Bajirao, who falls in love with a warrior princess named Mastani, played by Deepika Padukone. The two meet while fighting on the same side in a battle and thus begins their love story, stoppable only by death.

More recently, Ranveer Singh was seen in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani opposite Alia Bhatt. The film was well received by the audience for its over-the-top characters, peppy music and elaborate sets – all quintessential elements of a Karan Johar family entertainer.

Meanwhile, Deepika recently appeared in an extended role in Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited film Jawan. The Atlee directorial was released in theatres on Thursday and crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark at the global box office on the first day itself.