Since the film’s focus is primarily on Deepika – a young actor more at ease in casual clothes like funky jeans and T-shirt than heavy traditional attires worn during the bygone era – Anju took her into confidence. Otherwise, justifying such a grand film becomes difficult.” So I designed costumes in a way that Mastani looks expressive, graceful and able to uphold her dignity in adversity.”Īnju says, “In order to be true to the character and the script, understanding of the story and the protagonist are crucial elements. She is the second wife and the culture at her husband’s home is alien to the Muslim household she grew up in.

However, in her husband’s home she has things stacked against her. “Mastani is a beautiful dancer, likes to dress regally. She is in love with Bajirao, a Peshwa who holds together the Maratha empire,” says Anju after the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour where the first look of Mastaani was revealed with Deepika as the showstopper.Īfter marriage with her beloved, Mastani becomes a member of the Marathi Brahmin household. The distinction between the two had to be kept in mind. She had to look different from the environment around her which had to have an imprint of Maharashtrian culture. The Persian touch had to be ensured at all cost. “Bhansali told me that since Deepika is playing Mastani, a Muslim character, her costumes need to be crafted in such a way that the Islamic culture is palpable. Even then Bhansali, who does not do things in half measures, narrated the script in a slow drawl explaining nuances of important scenes, song picturisation and what he wanted in term of look and feel of garments.

This was the clear cut instructions from ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bansali, known for getting the best work from Aishwarya Rai in films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, for the historical narrative, which has the ingredients for making it a magnum opus, something he has been planning for a decade.įor the period film, Anju, who worked with Bhansali in his earlier film Ram-Leela, had real life reference point to make Deepika look fetching. For Delhi-based couturier Anju Modi the challenge in taking up the mantle of costume designing in “Bajirao Mastani” was to make its lead actor Deepika Padukone, blessed with charming countenance, look more beautiful than she is in real life.

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