‘Padmavati’ In Troubled Waters After Producer Backs Out

Producers are afraid to touch the Rs 170-crore period drama after the debacle that was ‘Mohenjo Daro’.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are teaming up for the third time with Sanjay Leela Bhansali after Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani.

Eros International, the producers who have been battling a series of crises and problems, have now opted out of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next ambitious pseudo-historical Padmavati. The proposed Rs 170-crore budget for the opus was seen to be too much for one corporate house to handle.

Recently along with Eros, another corporate production house Viacom 18 was invited to fund the expensive film. But now with Eros backing out, Viacom’s presence in the production of Padmavati also seems unlikely.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is casting Deepika Padukone as Padmavati. (Photo: Reuters)

Where does that leave Padmavati?

Not in a very secure place, I am afraid. No corporate house would be willing to dole out the kind of budget the film requires. Not for a costume drama. Not after the debacle of Ashutosh Gowariker’s <i>Mohenjo Daro</i>.

An Insider