Gowariker, Desai recreate Shaniwar Wada fort for 'Panipat'

The historic Shaniwar Wada fort of Pune is being recreated for historic period drama 'Panipat' at N.D Studios that features actor Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kirti Sanon in pivotal roles.

The film is directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowarikar and is slated to release on December 6, 2019.

Shaniwar Wada fort is being recreated by Nitin Chandrakant Desai, the noted art director. "I have worked with Ashutosh Gowariker earlier too for film Jodhaa Akbar.. I know what he wants... After several months of hard work we came up with a plan ready for the film set," Desai told Deccan Herald.

On April 17, the construction of the Wada began at the ND Studios in Raigad district. "The plan is to make it to the original scale," said Gowarikar.

The Shaniwar Wada was originally the seven-storied capital building of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire.
The film is based on the Third Battle of Panipat that took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat, about 60 miles (97 km) north of Delhi, between a northern expeditionary force of the Maratha Empire and invading forces of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali, supported by two Indian allies—the Rohilla Najib-ud-daulah Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh.

Militarily, the battle pitted the artillery and cavalry of the Marathas against the heavy cavalry and mounted artillery (zamburak and jezail) of the Afghans and Rohillas led by Abdali and Najib-ud-Daulah, both ethnic Afghans.

The battle is considered one of the largest and most eventful fought in the 18th century and has perhaps the largest number of fatalities in a single day reported in a classic formation battle between two armies.
In the film, Sanjay Dutt plays the role of Ahmad Khan Abdali, the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded as the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan.

Arjun Kapoor will be seen as Maratha army commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, son of Chimaji Appa, who was the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa. Kriti Sanon as Parvatibai Bhatt, the wife of Sadashiv Rao Bhau.