Digital Desk, March 4: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is asked to choose between Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone. “Not that in the same breath I can say that Alia could not have played Mastani or Deepika could not have played Gangu. But I feel what casting I’ve done, keeping their essence, is the right casting. So, what Alia did for this role, only Alia could have done. And what Deepika did in those roles only Deepika could have done,” Bhansali said.
“For me Deepika is a beautiful girl, wonderful actor. But if I have to do Bajirao Mastani then I will have to have Deepika, and If I’m doing Gangubai, I will have to have Alia play it,” he added. Notably, Netflix had officially announced its collaboration with Bhansali for Heeramandi in August last year.