Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor were first choices for ‘Bajirao Mastani’?

Did you know that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was initially selected to play the lead role in the film ‘Bajirao Mastani’? It is an interesting fact that many might not be aware of. Salman Khan had even cut his hair and shot a poster for the film alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan several years ago.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious project, ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ was one of the most eagerly anticipated films in Bollywood. Before its final cast was decided, the film was offered to several A-list actors in the industry. Eventually, the roles went to Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.

According to Indian media reports, the original plan was to have Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles, with Rani Mukerji portraying Kashibai. Bhansali wanted to recreate the mesmerizing chemistry between Khan and Rai, who had previously worked together in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.’

However, following the highly publicized breakup of the couple at the time, Rai was reportedly replaced by Kareena Kapoor on Salman Khan’s suggestion. The ‘Bodyguard’ pair even underwent a screen test for the film, and Khan went as far as changing his hairstyle to match the signature look of Peshwa Bajirao.

Unfortunately, the pairing did not work out as Bhansali envisioned, leading to the filmmaker’s decision not to cast them for his passion project. This decision resulted in a fallout between Bhansali and Khan, and they never collaborated again after that.

Interestingly, the poster featuring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor as Bajirao and Mastani is still present in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s office, serving as a reminder of the initial casting choice.

After multiple delays caused by casting changes, Bhansali’s passion project was ultimately realized with real-life couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh as the leads, while Priyanka Chopra played the role of Kashibai.

Released in December 2015, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ became a cinematic masterpiece portraying the story of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao and his second wife Mastani. The film achieved significant commercial success at the box office and received numerous accolades, including seven National Film Awards.