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Birju Maharaj trains Deepika Padukone for a special number in 'Bajirao Mastani'

While the song was initially picturised on both the leading ladies- Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali decided to film the song only with Dippy...

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Pandit Birju Maharaj, the leading exemplar of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India has been training Deepika Padukone as she essays the role of Mastani in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Bajirao Mastani. Birju Maharaj has earlier worked on another Bhansali film - the National award winning, Devdas where he trained Madhuri Dixit . This time around, the legend will be mentoring Deepika , who is a trained Bharatanatyam and Kathak dancer. However,this will be the first time Deepika is training with the dance maestro and has been attending extensive workshops with him , to gauge the finer nuances of classical dance. 

Confirming the news says Pandit Birju Maharaj, "I will choreograph Deepika in a solo act which is a more contemporary adaptation of one of my own performances set on an Avadhi Brijwasi thumri, Balma re chunaria maiko lal.There's a lot of lal rang in the song with Deepika dressed in fiery red, her head demurely covered by a ghoonghat but her eyes flashing fire".
 
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali who shares a warm equation with Pandit Birju Maharaj, has personally been attending the rehearsals to check on Deepika's progress.
 
Reveals a source, " Deepika has been training with Pandit Birju Maharaj as she essays the role of Mastani , who was a court dancer.Since the film dates back to centuries, it was crucial for Deepika to ace the finer nuances of the dance forms to maintain authenticity. She has been practicing for 2 hours a day with Birju Maharaj”.
 
Adds Birju Maharaj, "We'll be shooting for 12 nights at a stretch. And till then I've given Deepika lots of homework that'll keep her busy.”

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