There was buzz that Bollywood star Ajay Devgan was reportedly the first choice for actor Ranveer Singh's role as Alauddin Khilji in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film 'Padmavati'. Now, according to latest reports, the 'Golmaal Again' actor was offered 'Bajirao Mastani' and not 'Padmavati'. Bhansali Productions who rubbished reports of Ajay Devgan being the original choice for Ranveer Singh's role of Alauddin Khilji in 'Padmavati' and called it 'irrelevant PR'. The source told the newspaper, "Ajay was never offered Padmavati. The Khilji role was Ranveer Singh's from the very start. Ajay had been offered Bajirao Mastani; he was the first choice for the role. And Bhansali sir was keen to team up with him again after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But things didn't work out then."

The report suggests that Ajay Devgn demanded a whopping amount that forced Sanjay Leela Bhansali to consider his 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' actor for 'Bajirao Mastani'. Meanwhile, 'Padmavati' is currently in the midst of a raging controversy. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie 'Padmavati' hasn't gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. It features Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and a warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it 'distorts history' regarding the Rajput queen, and Bhansali has denied it repeatedly. The movie's release date has been deferred from the original December 1 date, but there are efforts from Hindu groups to have it banned.