The making of Padmavati song Ghoomar: Deepika Padukone’s 66 twirls, 30kg lehenga and more

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone is already winning the internet as her first song from Padmavati, Ghoomar, has received 8.5 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film features Deepika in titular role while Shahid Kapoor plays her husband Maharana Rawal Singh. Ranveer Singh essays the role of invader Alauddin Khilji.

To prepare for the song, Deepika learned Ghoomar, the Rajasthani dance form, under the tutelage of renowned expert Jyothi D Tommaar. The song is choreographed by Kruti Mahesh Midya and sung in the soulful voice of Shreya Ghoshal, with music by the maestro Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Ghoomar traditionally involves twirling in circles, leaving the onlookers enchanted and mesmerised by the beautiful visuals as the massive lehengas of dancers form a colourful circle.

Sources reveal that Deepika did over 66 twirls while shooting for the song. Adding to the difficult dance form that includes twists and twirls, Deepika had to do the dance in an extravagant costume and adorned in heavy jewellery. Reportedly, the Rimple Narula lehenga weighed around 30 kg and was made at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh!

According to Tanishq, the company that designed and provided jewellery for the film, more than 200 craftsmen worked for 600 days and moulded 400kg of gold for the jewellery used in Padmavati.

Talking about the song, Deepika had earlier said, “The Ghoomar song has been one of the most difficult song sequences that Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) sir and I have shot for. His vision can be seen in the grandiose of the set and the immense hard work we’ve all put into making it. I had started preparing for this film and character for several months before we actually started filming. But it was for the Ghoomar song that I walked onto set as Padmavati for the very first time. The shooting of Padmavati began with the Ghoomar song and I will never forget that day.”

“I remember approaching my mark for the first shot and suddenly I felt a chill run through my body. It was almost as if Padmavati‘s soul had entered my body. That feeling still lingers and will continue for years to come,” she added.

Produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions, Padmavati is all set for a worldwide release on December 1.

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