Bhagyashree is discussing the behind-the-scenes work on one of Bollywood's trickiest age-gap castings. The veteran actress, who plays Rajmata Jijabai in the upcoming Raja Shivaji, has opened up about the makeup and styling required to convincingly portray the mother of her co-star Riteish Deshmukh—who is a full decade younger than her.
"They had to make me look older," Bhagyashree revealed in an interview with NDTV Movies. The makeup and styling work were necessary to maintain period authenticity and character believability, even when real-life ages don't align with the roles.
But the focus for Bhagyashree was clear: this role was about honouring Rajmata Jijabai, the historical figure who shaped the Maratha empire.
"For me, it was about honouring a legendary historical figure," she stressed. Playing the mother of a warrior king carries serious responsibility, and Bhagyashree brought that weight to the role.
The casting choice has drawn attention in Bollywood circles. Pairing a seasoned actress with significant screen presence against Riteish's star power is a bold move for a period drama, and the chemistry between the two could shape the film's impact.
Raja Shivaji is a sweeping historical epic. With Bhagyashree's dedication to the craft—makeup and all—audiences are anticipating how the mother-son dynamic will unfold on screen.
