The much talked about big screen offering by Sanjay leela Bhansali ‘Bajirao Mastani’ is into hullabaloo before its release.
like Sanjay’s other movies, this is one of the most awaited one. But the making of this historical flick will scoop into controversies.
Notably, this romantic drama movie is based on the life of Mastani Bai and Peshwa Bajirao 1. In the movie Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra will be seen playing the titular roles. Deepika will be seen as Mastani whereas; Priyanka will be seen as Baji Rao’s first wife Kashi Bai and Ranveer will be seen as Bajirao 1.
The controversy over the flick spread like the fire in the jungle when the descendants of Mastani Bai objected the making of the film. The seventh generation of the royal couple recently has filed a legal petition at High Court, Jabalpur to see Bhansali’s script. They gave a crucial statement that the lineage exemplify the respect and love between Hindus and Muslims. Moreover, Mastani Bai diversified Maratha history by spreading the roots that later became the Nawabs of Banda.
The descendents believe that there might be some manipulations done with
the history in the movie, which is not acceptable by them and might offense their family history.
While informing about it, Tamkeen Ali Bahadur told The Pioneer, “We are the seventh generation descendents of Mastani Bai. Recently we are living in Sehore, Banda compound.” He further said, “As soon as we came to know about the making of Bajirao Mastani we urged Bhansali’s production team to get the actual information from us and we asked a copy of the script so that no extra changes could be made in the movie harming our history.”
Notably, there are many legends associated with Mastani. One of the most well-known is that Mastani was the daughter of Bundela Rajput leader Maharaja Chhatrasal (1649–1731), the founder of Panna State in Bundelkhand province, and was borne by his Persian-Muslim wife Ruhaani Bai. When a Mughal chief from Allahabad, Mohammad Khan Bangash, invaded Chhattrasal’s kingdom during 1727-28, Chhattrasal sent a secret message, seeking help, from Baji Rao I. In gratitude, Chattrasal gave Bajirao his daughter Mastani.
Bajirao I and Mastani had a son named Shamsher Ali Bahadur. His descendants became the Nawabs of Banda district, but lost their estate in another incident of Hindu-Muslim alliance when Nawab Ali Bahadur II, a descendent of Shamser, responded to a rakhi sent by Rani laxmibai of Jhansi and fought against the British alongside her in 1858.
The Ali Bahadur clan of Bhopal, Indore and Sehore trace their ancestors to Nawab Ali Bahadur I, son of Shamsher. In a strategic move to dilute his popularity in the Peshwa court, he was given the provinces that came in Mastani’s dowry to govern. Raised in Shaniwarwada and closely associated with the Warkari sect, this marriage of cultures and religions has become the identity of the clan.
The movie is scheduled to be released on December 18.
