Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ode to Madhubala

Bajirao Mastani sees Deepika Padukone pay tribute to Madhubala’s legendary Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya from K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam. According to sources connected to the film, BM director Sanjay Leela Bhansali designed an entire song in the film as a tribute to Asif’s spectacular vision.

“The Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya number in Mughal-e-Azam was designed to showcase Madhubala’s beauty in all its glory. Director K. Asif had shot the song in a spectacularly constructed ‘Sheesh Mahal’ set. Sanjay has set his song in a specially designed ‘Aaina Mahal’ set as a tribute to K. Asif, Mughal-e-Azam, Madhubala and Deepika,” our source said.

Deepika’s song, which is called Deewani Mastani, was apparently specially composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali to replicate the captivating melody of music composer Naushad’s Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya. Lata Mangeshkar had rendered the song for Mughal-e-Azam.

“Sanjay is the hugest fan of Lataji. He got Shreya Ghosal, who is a direct descendent of the Lata Mangeshkar school of singing, to do the needful in Bajirao Mastani,” our source says.

Deepika did the rest. A unit member told us, “Under the supervision of choreographer Remo D’Souza, Deepika danced like a dream. This number will do for her what Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya did for Madhubala. And yes, Sanjay has shot images of Deepika reflected in scores of mirrors in  his ‘Aaina Mahal’, just as K. Asif  had shot Madhubala in the ‘Sheesh Mahal’.”

Incidentally, Katrina Kaif is also expected to do a Madhubala in the Kishore Kumar biopic, whenever it is made by Anurag Basu. It will have Ranbir Kapoor in the title role.