An account of the romance between the Maratha general, Baji Rao I and Mastani, princess of Bundelkhand.
Bajirao I, who fought over 41 major battles and several lesser ones, was reputed to have never lost any of them. Bajirao is described as "RANMARD" a man made of and for the battlefield. Bajirao told his brother "Remember that night has nothing to do with sleep. It was created by God, to raid territory held by your enemy. The night is your shield, your screen against the cannons and swords of vastly superior enemy forces." A born cavalry leader, Bajirao was unequaled for the daring and originality of his genius. Mastani, the fabled warrior princess, was the daughter of Raja Chattrasal and his Persian wife Roohani Begum. An expert dancer, singer, and warrior, Mastani is sent to battle at the head of the Bundelkhand army. A chance meeting on a battlefield where they fight on the same side puts Bajirao and Mastani on a course of passionate love that is unstoppable by their families, by war, or by death itself.
In the 18th century, the court of Maratha Kingdom needs Peshwa and Bajirao is nominated. He wins everyone's hearts by his skills and becomes Peshwa, and years later he marries Kashibai. Going to war, a woman from Bundelkhand asks his help and reveals herself as Mastani, daughter of the Rajput king. Impressed by her skills, Bajirao helps her fight her enemies and gifts her his dagger during the Holi festival--not knowing that it's a symbol of marriage.—[email protected]
In the early 18th century, the court of Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu (Mahesh Manjrekar) from Satara Empire decides to appoint a new Peshwa (upon the death of the incumbent Peshwa), the equivalent of a modern-day prime minister.In spite of Shripad Rao's (Aditya Pancholi) (who is the Pant Pratinidhi) self-nomination, Ambaji Pant (Milind Soman) chooses to nominate a young Bajirao (Ranveer Singh). Ambaji argues that Bajirao is the best warrior of the empire and hence most capable of protecting its borders.
To test his spiritual wisdom and knowledge of weaponry, Shripad challenges Bajirao to split a peacock feather with an arrow. Bajirao succeeds and is given the title of Shrimant Peshwa. Bajirao is clear that to defeat the Mughals, the Maratha would have to attack Delhi, the root and the seat of the Mughal empire.
Ten years later, his wife Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra) is visited by her widowed friend Bhanu (Snehlata Girish Vasaikar), whose husband was accused of spying on Bajirao and hence was executed. She bitterly forebodes that just like she longs for her husband, Kashi, too, will yearn for Bajirao.In these 10 years, Bajirao had expanded Maratha empire at a breakneck speed. Bajirao had the dream to establish a Hindu empire in the land by driving out the Mughals.
While traveling to Sironja, an emissary from Bundelkhand infiltrates Bajirao's tent and demands his help in fighting Muslim invaders. She reveals herself to be Mastani (Deepika Padukone), the daughter of the Rajput King Chhatrasal (Benjamin Gilani) and his Persian queen, Ruhani Bai. Impressed by her skills as a warrior, Bajirao assists her with his army and defeats the invaders. Bajirao believes that Hindu kings should stand for one another in face of Muslim invaders. Mastani is injured in the attack and Bajirao helps her by cauterizing her wound. From the very beginning Bajirao and Mastani have a spark in their relationship.
Chhatrasal is overjoyed and insists that Bajirao spend Holi with them. Mastani and Bajirao fall in love during this time, and he gives her his dagger (with which he cauterized her wound), unaware that it is a symbol of marriage among the Rajputs. He soon departs for Pune, where Kashi greets him with a tour of their newly built Shaniwar Wada and shows him the Aaina Mahal (hall of mirrors) which allows her to see him from her room.
Mastani is part Hindu, part Muslim due to the lineage of her parents. Ruhani knows that Mastani loves Bajirao but warns her that as a Muslim she will not be accepted as a Maratha Queen.
Determined to pursue her love, Mastani arrives in Pune but is treated harshly by Bajirao's mother Radhabai (Tanvi Azmi). Mastani says that in Bundelkhand marriages are confirmed by presenting a dagger and as such she is Bajirao's wife. Radha accommodates Mastani in the palace for courtesans. She tolerates this insult and appears to dance before Bajirao on the occasion of Parava. Radhabai scornfully offers her the occupation of a royal dancer but refuses to accept her as a daughter-in-law.
Mastani travels to the King and expresses her desire to be with Bajirao before leaving to wait for him at a ruin across the river. Bajirao crosses the river in the middle of a storm and chides her persistence, reminding her that he is already married and that his court will never respect her if she is with him. She agrees despite his warning, and he declares her as his second wife.
The Marathas prepare to attack Delhi, the capital of the Mughal Empire, but must first ensure the Nizam, the Muslim ruler of Hyderabad, will not attack them.Bajirao leaves to confront the Nizam of Deccan Qamar Ud-Din Khan (Raza Murad) and although his odds of victory are slim, he returns successful. A pregnant Kashi witnesses Bajirao embracing Mastani, who is also expecting, in the Aaina Mahal and leaves for her mother's home. She returns months later with her newborn son, who is named Raghunath in joyous celebration.
Mastani also gives birth to a son, whom Mastani and Bajirao name Krishna Rao, but when Krishnaji Bhatt (Yatin Karyekar), the head Brahmin priest, refuses to conduct the NaamKaran (Hindu christening ceremony) and he is deemed illegitimate, Bajirao names him Shamsher Bahadur deciding he will be raised Muslim.
A few years later, Kashi's eldest son Balaji Baji Rao / Nana Saheb (Ayush Tandon) returns from Satara and expresses hatred towards Mastani for disrupting his mother's marriage.
Kashibai is informed of a treacherous plan to murder Mastani and her son during during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival by Shiva Bhatt, another Brahmin priest. Kashibai reluctantly relays this news to Bajirao, who rescues both of them from certain death. Following the murder of Shiva Bhatt by Krishnaji Bhatt, Bajirao is enraged. For Mastani's safety and to grant her a royal abode, Bajirao builds Mastani Mahal for her. Bajirao, however, is devastated due to the betrayal of Radhabai and Chimaji Appa (Vaibhav Tatwawaadi) (Bajirao's younger brother), when Pant informs him that he must defeat Nasir, the vengeful son of the Nizam. Bajirao proclaims that even if he loves Mastani, his life and allegiance is always to his cause, so he decides to enter the battlefield.
Before leaving, he meets Kashibai in deference to the tradition that the wife sees her husband into battle. In tears, Kashibai explains that Bajirao broke her heart and took her pride in what he has done, and compares their love with that of Krishna and Rukmini. She asks him never to enter her chamber again, and a teary-eyed Bajirao accepts, apologizing for hurting her.
After Bajirao leaves for battle, Radhabai and Nana Saheb imprison Mastani and Shamsher Bahadur. After Bajirao defeats Nasir all by himself, he receives news of this treachery and collapses from his injuries. Kashi pleads with Radhabai to release Mastani so that Bajirao can recover, but her attempt is futile as Balaji Baji Rao burns the letter and refuses to release Mastani. Bajirao, delirious due to his sickness, dies from the trauma of his hallucinations, just as Mastani passes away in captivity. The two fated lovers are shown to be united in death.
