Sanjay Leela Bhansali is currently busy shooting his magnum opus - Padmavati - starring Deepika Padukone. The film also stars Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

If the latest buzz is anything to go by, Ranveer and Shahid were not the first choices for the characters of Alauddin Khilji and Rawal Ratan Singh. According to a report DNA originally attributed to a leading film critic, SLB chose to have Deepika on board even after superstars refused to be a part of it.

`Bhansali stuck with his leading lady even after top male stars offered to star in it if the director was willing to change the title to sound less like it revolved around the heroine. Deepika is returning the favour by standing firmly by Bhansali's side, focusing solely on Padmavati, even as her co-actors Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor are dividing their time between Bhansali's set and ad-films, appearances, and the like,` dnaindia.com quoted Masand as saying.

Slated to release on November 17, 'Padmavati' is one of the most awaited films of the year.