Picture perfect
While making a film, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali lays a lot of emphasis on the look and presentation of his leading ladies. He is also someone who extracts stellar performances from his actors — whether it was from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Madhuri Dixit Nene and Aishwarya in Devdas (2002), Deepika Padukone in Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela (2013) or Deepika and Priyanka Chopra in his upcoming movie, Bajirao Mastani.
Talking about his leading ladies, Bhansali says, “I am happy to have two of the most stunning and talented actresses of this generation in my film. With their respective strengths and skills, they have taken this dream to an all-new level. They have given Bajirao Mastani their all. Audiences will not take their eyes off both of them, with their arresting presence on screen in this film.”
Deepika says that the director pushes his actors to do their best. “Sanjay Bhansali is very clear about what he wants, and in that process, he pushes you to discover something new in yourself that you didn’t even know existed. It has been a challenge, but in the end, it is all worth it, as I trust him blindly, and I value the beautiful actor-director relationship we share,” she adds.
On the other hand, Priyanka calls working with Bhansali a “magical” experience. “I did this film for Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Shooting with him has been magical. Since he has lived with the film and with the characters for so many years, he knows them like the back of his hand. Bajirao Mastani is poetry in motion, and I’m so happy to be part of his work of art,” she says.
Eros International & Bhansali Production’s Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, among others, releases worldwide on December 18, 2015.