Prabhas was the first choice for the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s periodic drama Padmaavat. According to the latest buzz in the film Industry, Young Rebel star Prabhas was offered the role of Maharawal Ratan Singh in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, originally titled Padmavati. Of course, the role was later played by Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor. This comes as a surprise after the reveal that not Deepika Padukone but beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the original choice. But what made Baaubali star Prabhas turn it down?
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh played the role of Rani Padmavati and Aladdin Khilji respectively. The sources say that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was impressed with Prabhas’s persona and performance as the mighty Baahubali in SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali series and he immediately decided that Prabhas would be the best choice to play the role of brave Maharawal Ratan Singh. But when Sanjay Leela Bhansali asked Prabhas about this role, he rejected the offer as he felt the role in Padmaavat was not meaty enough. Prabhas who spent more than 5 years for Baahubali:The Beginning and Baahubali 2:The conclusion, was not in mood to take risk. Later the makers contacted Shahid Kapoor and the actor who was just recovering from the Shandaar debacle, became agreed for Padmaavat.
Recently in an interview, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also opened up about Padmaavat and said, “Sanjay Leela Bhansali didn’t get the Bajirao 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.”
Meanwhile, Prabhas is currently romancing with Sharddha Kapoor in upcoming multilingual drama Saaho, being helmed by Sujeeth Reddy and bankrolled by UV Creations. Very soon the team of Saaho including Prabhas are going to fly Romania for the shoot.