All the excitement generated by the news of Shah Rukh Khan playing Bajirao in Bajirao Mastani appears to be unfounded. Sources from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s office say there is no truth in reports that he would be stepping into SLB’s long-cherished project based on the life and times of the Maratha warrior.
Says the source, “Shah Rukh is just not right for the part of a Maratha warrior. He has a very strong urbane screen presence. And his fans like to see him in a particular cool dude image. Bhansali and Khan share a terrific rapport. They meet socially and have frequently discussed the desire to work together again after Devdas. But it won’t be for Bajirao Mastani.”
Ironically, neither the actor nor the director know who is the source of the story. It was wrong and highly embarrassing for both the director and the star because both think the other planted it.
The spokesperson for Shah Rukh confirmed that he is not doing the film.
About Bajirao Mastani
SLB was all set to direct Bajirao Mastani in 2003 with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. But the project fell through when director Priyadarshan made a flop film entitled Kyun Ki with Kareena and Salman, thereby killing the freshness of the pair. It seems unlikely that Shah Rukh would step into a role ear-marked for Salman.
