Will 'Padmavati' turn 'Panvati' for Sanjay Leela Bhansali?

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone

With reports this week of co-producer Eros International having pulled out of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period-drama, Padmavati, rumour mills have been in overdrive with news that the director is actively scouting for another production house to fund the project that's expected to cost Rs 180 cr.

However, in the midst of the multiple crises that have plagued the film's progress, another pressing issue appears to be draining its financial resources: a lavish set at Bandra's Mehboob studio, that's receiving little attention since it was rented for production in the middle of August, leading to escalating daily costs, with no shoot in sight.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Says an official from Mehboob studio, "The cost of renting a studio at the venue is Rs 45,000 for the first 12 hours. After that, it ups to Rs 60,000 every 12 hours. An extra hour following this is charged at Rs 17,700."

A worker on the set revealed that the stipend received by the 20 appointed staffers for the shoot is R1,000 per head, per day, even if the shoot is yet to start.

With work on the palatial set for the Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer currently in a state of limbo, Bhansali's production house has been paying both rent and salary for close to two months. The filmmakers intend to use the studio to showcase Chittor ruler Rawal Ratan Singh's wife, Padmavati's magnificent Jal Mahal that sits inside Chittorgarh Fort, where Alauddin Khilji (ruler of the Delhi Suntanate from 1296 to 1316) first set eyes on her albeit through her reflection.

A source close to the production says, "There is a lot of work pending, including the lighting, which will take some time. We had stopped work on the set, but kick-started it again a few days ago, since the film is expected to roll within the next few months, hopefully." Besides funding issues, there could also be the added problem of matching dates of the film's star-cast. "Ranveer is strongly prepping for his role (of Alauddin Khilji), but also needs to start promotions for his next [Aditya Chopra's Befikre], in November. Shahid [Ratan Singh] is now on paternal leave, and Deepika is busy with XXX: The Return of Xander Cage."

While Viacom 18 remained unavailable for comment, industry sources insist the filmmaker is in the final stages of negotiating a fresh deal with a studio to take over the project, and get production restarted. Bhansali's spokesperson, however, maintains, "The shoot was always meant to begin from October 21."