Bajirao
Mastani is a 2015 Indian epic historical romance film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who also composed
its soundtrack. The film was jointly produced
by Bhansali and Eros International's Kishore Lulla; it
stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.
The supporting cast includes Tanvi Azmi, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi and Milind Soman.
Based on the Marathi novel Raauby Nagnath S. Inamdar, Bajirao Mastani narrates the
story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I (1700–1740
AD) and his second wife Mastani.
Conceived as early as the 1990s, Bhansali announced
the film in 2003 but production was delayed several times due to its changing
cast. Bajirao Mastani, a
passion project for Bhansali, spent the next eleven years in development hell before
being revived in 2014. Extensive research was done before moving into pre-production,
which required the creation of twenty-two highly detailed sets, and numerous
costumes and props to strengthen its opulence and high production value. Principal photography took place on sets
constructed in Film City, with some portions being filmed on location. Visual effects and CGI were used in post-production to
enhance a number of scenes. The film was released on 18 December 2015 to
positive reviews, with praise directed towards Bhansali's direction, various
technical achievements and the performances of the cast, particularly of Chopra
and Singh. Bajirao Mastani has
also been noted for its scale, grandeur and attention to detail. With a budget
of ₹1.45 billion, including marketing and advertisements, it is one of
the most expensive Hindi films.
It has grossed over ₹3.56 billion at the box office, becoming a major
commercial success and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of
all time.
Recipient of several accolades, Bajirao Mastani won seven National Film Awards, including Best Direction and Best Supporting Actress for
Azmi. The film received a leading fourteen nominations at the 61st Filmfare Awards and won nine awards,
including Best Film, Best Director for Bhansali, Best Actor for Singh and Best Supporting Actress for
Chopra.