Daily Times

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmaavat’ won over audiences and critics alike with its opulence and visual splendour, apart from great performances by the leading stars – Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. One character that had a lasting impact on the audience and fans like was none other than Ranveer’s barbaric Sultan Alauddin Khilji. The villainous role not only had many swooning over his act but also won him great appreciation from Bollywood megastars like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to name a few.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the finest actresses and most bankable stars in Bollywood at the moment. The beauty is among the most coveted leading ladies in the industry and has proved that she can romance much younger actors like she did with Ranbir Kapoor in the film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’. Only getting better with time, the former Miss World has reportedly charged a whopping Rs 10 crore for the upcoming ‘Raat Aur Din’ remake.

If reports are to be believed, then the film’s producers have accepted her demand without any negotiation. Aishwarya will step into the shoes of late legendary actress Nargis and will have a double role in the film which will require her to focus wholly on the project.

Meanwhile, she is currently working on her next film ‘Fanne Khan’ that co-stars Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.

Reports had once claimed ‘Bajirao Mastani’ actress Deepika Padukone has charged a whopping Rs 12 crore for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film ‘Padmavati’. However, it was said to be justified due to her extremely demanding shooting schedule which kept her off the hook from signing other projects. According to the latest report in Mumbai Mirror, the actress who made her Hollywood film debut with ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’, was approached by a filmmaker for a project featuring a leading Khan and one more heroine. However, DP stuck to her fixed fee of Rs 12 crore and is in no mood to bring it down in the near future.

Published in Daily Times, February 13^th 2018.