Aishwarya Rai was first choice for Padmavat, not Deepika Padukone?

Padmavat is one of the best films in 2018 so far. It is the third blockbuster of Deepika Padukone with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, after Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani. However initially Bhansali wanted to cast Aishwarya Rai for Padmavat.

Image credit : (left) Deepika Padukone in Padmavat (right) Aishwarya Rai in Jodha Akbar

In a recent interview, the former Miss world revealed that Bhansali wanted her to play the role of Padmavati but things couldn’t work out. “Bajirao Mastani also we were supposed to do together. He didn’t get the Bajirao for me. He didn’t get the Khilji for me; He wanted me to do Padmaavat, but could not get the Khilji for me, at the casting time. So, that’s how it didn’t happen. I would love to work together.” Aishwarya said in a recent interview while promoting her new film, Fanney Khan.

(Aishwarya Rai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali) Image credit : IBtimes

Given the history of Aishwarya Rai with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as they have worked together before in biggest hits of Indian cinema like Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Guzaarish, no doubt that the ace director of Bollywood wanted to work with the actress again.

Aishwarya has played the character of a Rajput queen before in Jodha Akbar, so playing Rani Padmavati would have been an easy job for the actress too. We do hope that these two great people get to work on some new film soon.