“Devgan Was Never Offered Padmavati, He Was Offered Bajirao Mastani”

There are  reports in certain sections of  the media that Ajay Devgan was  offered the role  of Allauddin Khilji in Sanjay Bhansali’s Padmavati.

A  source close to Bhansali Production dismisses this talk as “irrelevant PR”

“Ajay Devgan  was  never  offered  Padmavati. The  Allauddin Khilji role was Ranveer Singh’s from the start.Ajay had been  offered Bajirao Mastani. He was  the first  choice for  the  role. And Bhansali Sir  was keen  to team up  with him again after  Hum…Dil De Chuke Sanam.  But things didn’t work out then,” says  the well-informed  source.

Apparently Devgan  quoted a price for Bajirao Mastani that sent Bhansali staggering back to his Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram Leela hero Ranveer Singh.

Incidentally, the first  choice  for Ram Leela was Ranbir Kapoor. But for reasons best known to him , Ranbir vowed  never to work with Bhansali after his debut in Saawariya. Ranbir preferred to do Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet while Ranveer Singh  shot for Ram Leela.

In fact Ranveer Singh was  to do Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet and was trying to work out his dates when Ranbir Kapoor showed an  interest in the project.Kashyap didn’t even inform Ranveer Singh before replacing  him with Ranbir Kapoor in  Bombay Velvet.

Jaan bachi toh lakhon paye.