Padmavati shoot takes off

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious historical drama Padmavati was off to a flying start on November 1, at the sets erected at Mumbai’s Mehboob studios. Only Ranveer from the core cast was present at the shoot.

Says a source from the sets, “The shooting of this schedule will go on for 50 days at a stretch-from this month to the end of December. Deepika and Shahid will only join later. Right now, it’s Ranveer on the sets.”

The set alone is believed to cost up to Rs 40 lakhs. “Every costume Deepika wears will be authenticated and true to her character and to the era she represents. With Padmavati, Sanjay wants to go beyond the heights he achieved with Bajirao Mastani, in terms of scale and visual appeal. Padmavati is expected to be the most expensive, visually lavish Indian film of all time, with a budget that far exceeds that of Rajamouli’s Baahubali and any other Indian film,” he adds.