This movie is about Baji Rao I, who is an unbeatable warrior and his second wife, Mastani. They face many hardships but their love always brings them back together. Sadly, one day they had to succumb to brutality to keep their true love alive.
The film feels overly ceremonious, purposefully epic and, in places, a little exhausting. But hang in there. Because slowly and skillfully, Bajirao Mastani transports you.
The central pair of defiant lovers are never particularly convincing as convention-busters, nor are they as appealing as the rooms they inhabit or the clothes they wear.
Singh's bullet-headed Bajirao, forever charging into uncharted physical and emotional terrain, marks another fine showing from one of Bollywood's most versatile leads: we spot exactly why this bad boy commands the loyalty, even lust he does.
The physical beauty and real acting talent of the three leads rises this to just above sud-level. Its central message that 'all religions preach love, but love has no religion' is to be commended, especially since it is still so pertinent to India today.
