Bajirao Mastani is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language epic historical romance film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film is based on the relationship between the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I and his second wife Mastani. It stars Ranveer Singh as Bajirao, Deepika Padukone as Mastani, and Priyanka Chopra as Bajirao's first wife Kashibai. The film was produced by Bhansali Productions and Eros International, and was released on 18 December 2015.
The project had been in development for over a decade before being filmed. It became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2015 and won several major awards, including seven Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award. The narrative draws from N. S. Inamdar's Marathi novel Rau, while taking creative liberties with the historical record.
| Title | Bajirao Mastani |
|---|---|
| Director | Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
| Producers | Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kishore Lulla |
| Production companies | Bhansali Productions, Eros International |
| Writers | Sanjay Leela Bhansali (story); Prakash Kapadia (screenplay and dialogues) |
| Based on | Rau by N. S. Inamdar |
| Music | Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
| Cinematography | Sudeep Chatterjee |
| Editor | Rajesh Pandey |
| Lead cast | Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra |
| Language | Hindi |
| Release date | 18 December 2015 |
| Country | India |
Set in the early 18th century, the film follows Bajirao I, the young Peshwa of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shahu, who is renowned as an undefeated military commander. During a campaign in Bundelkhand, he aids Maharaja Chhatrasal against Mughal forces and meets Chhatrasal's daughter Mastani, born of his marriage with a Persian Muslim wife. Mastani fights alongside Bajirao and the two fall in love. He gifts her his dagger, which by Rajput custom is taken to signify marriage.
Mastani follows Bajirao to Pune, where she is rejected by his Brahmin family and his first wife Kashibai feels betrayed. The film traces the social and political opposition to their union, Bajirao's continued military campaigns, and the eventual tragic end of the lovers.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali had been planning a film on Bajirao and Mastani since the early 2000s. Earlier casting iterations were reported with different actors before the final cast was confirmed in 2014. The screenplay was written by Prakash Kapadia, a long-time collaborator of Bhansali.
Principal photography began in 2014. The film was shot largely on elaborate sets constructed at Film City in Mumbai, with additional schedules at locations in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The famed Aaina Mahal set, used for the song "Pinga", and the Shaniwar Wada-inspired courtyard for "Deewani Mastani" were noted for their scale.
The soundtrack was composed by Bhansali, with lyrics by Siddharth-Garima, Nasir Faraaz, Ganesh Chandanshive and A. M. Turaz. Notable tracks include "Deewani Mastani", "Pinga", "Albela Sajan", "Mohe Rang Do Laal" and "Malhari". The album was released by Eros Music.
The film was released theatrically on 18 December 2015, on the same day as Rohit Shetty's Dilwale. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, production design, music and cinematography. The film performed strongly at the box office in India and overseas, finishing among the top-grossing Hindi films of the year.
At the 63rd National Film Awards, the film won the National Film Award for Best Direction (Sanjay Leela Bhansali), along with awards in technical categories such as choreography. At the 61st Filmfare Awards, it won seven awards including Best Director, Best Actor (Ranveer Singh), Best Supporting Actress (Priyanka Chopra), Best Cinematography (Sudeep Chatterjee) and Best Production Design. The film also won at the Screen Awards, Zee Cine Awards and IIFA Awards.
Bajirao I (1700–1740) served as the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1720 until his death and is regarded as one of the most successful Maratha military leaders. Mastani is recorded in historical sources as his second wife, with traditions identifying her variously as the daughter of Chhatrasal of Bundelkhand. The film takes acknowledged dramatic liberties; a disclaimer is included at the start.
Some descendants of the Peshwa family and a few historians publicly objected to elements of the film, particularly the depiction of Kashibai and Mastani dancing together in "Pinga", which they argued was inconsistent with the customs of 18th-century Maratha Brahmin households. Despite these objections, the film released without any court-ordered cuts.
Bajirao Mastani is regarded as a defining work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's filmography, completing what he has described as a thematic trilogy on tragic love alongside Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas (2002), and preceding Padmaavat (2018). The film renewed mainstream popular interest in Maratha history and figures such as Bajirao I, Kashibai and Mastani.