Mumbai: Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj is to rock Bollywood box office with a classical movie titled Bajirao Mastani of Sanjay Leela Bhansali starring Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.
The leading exponent of Kathak Dance in India Pandit Birju Maharaj was supposed to train Deepika Padukone for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming movie Bajirao Mastani. Birju directed a famous song ‘Dola Re’ with Maduri Dixit for Sanjay’s earlier movie Devadas.
This time Birju will be mentoring Deepika, who is trained in Bharatanatyam and Kathak. However this is the first time for Deepika work with the maestro. She has been attending extensive workshops with him to perform well.
In an interview, Pandit Birju Maharaj revelead that “I will choreograph Deepika in a solo act which is a more contemporary adaptation of one of my own performances set on an Avadhi Brijwasi thumri, Balma re chunaria maiko lal.There’s a lot of lal rang in the song with Deepika dressed in fiery red, her head demurely covered by a Ghoonghat but her eyes flashing fire”.
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been personally observing the rehearsals to check Deepika’s progress. He says that, Deepika has been training with Birju maestro for the role of Mastani. She has been practicing for 2 hours a day apart from her busy schedule.
Birju Maestro adds that “We’ll be shooting for 12 nights at a stretch. And till then I’ve given Deepika lots of homework that’ll keep her busy”.