In a recent interview with a leading media organisation, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opened up about the speculations around working with director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She said that both Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat was offered to her, but he couldn’t find an actor to pair her with. “He 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. I would love to work together,” said the Fanney Khan-actress. The two have worked in a few films together including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Guzaarish.

Aishwarya further added that for a film to work, the casting needs to fit. “The person he saw to play Khilji with me did not happen. At the end of the day, if the casting is not happening, then sometimes, it doesn’t come together. We both loved working with each other, so let’s see, whenever it is meant to be,” she said.

According to reports, Bhansali intended to cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Salman Khan in Bajirao Mastani. However, the project finally worked out with Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. On the other hand, Padmaavat starred Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.