SLB's 'Malhari' from 'Bajirao Mastani' Transforms in Marvel's 'What If…?'
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Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) The acclaimed Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s song ‘Malhari’ from his directorial masterpiece ‘Bajirao Mastani’ has found its way into the third season of the streaming series ‘What If…?’.
The creators of the series have reimagined the song, which originally featured actor Ranveer Singh portraying the role of Peshwa Bajirao.
This sequence, present in the second episode, showcases Kumail Nanjiani reprising his role as Kingo, a superhero with Indian roots who also doubles as a Bollywood star. The recreation of the song in ‘What If…?’ merges Marvel’s iconic storytelling with SLB's vibrant musical style, encapsulating the song’s unparalleled energy. In the visuals, Kumail Nanjiani’s animated character Kingo leads a lively dance routine reminiscent of traditional Bollywood choreography.
This isn’t the first instance of Marvel exploring cultural diversity in its narratives; however, the recreation of a legendary Bollywood moment like ‘Malhari’ takes representation to a higher plateau.
Meanwhile, SLB is engrossed in the production of his forthcoming film ‘Love & War’, featuring stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal in leading roles. The film is scheduled to release on March 20, 2026.
Previously, SLB received widespread acclaim for his streaming directorial debut ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. This series became the sole Indian show on Google’s list of most searched shows globally in 2024. While numerous international titles secured top spots in Google trends, it is impressive that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's grand Netflix period drama ‘Heeramandi’ achieved the fourth position on this list.
Furthermore, amidst global discussions surrounding events like the US elections and climate crises, ‘Heeramandi’ managed to carve out its niche. The show features magnificent visuals, enchanting music, gripping storytelling, and stellar performances, all infused with SLB's hallmark of opulent narrative style. The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Taha Shah Badussha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Richa Chadha.
The show is poised to return for its second season on Netflix.
