Sanjay Leela Bansali's magnificent looking opus Bajirao Mastani released today to mixed reviews (Read Raja Sen's review here).
Before the film hit the theatres, Bhansali held a special screening last night in Mumbai for his friends from the industry.
How could the screening start without Bansali's Bajirao and Mastani?
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone smother director Sanjay Leela Bhansali with kisses.
Ranveer lends an arm, and a smile, to Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi.
Shilpa Shetty and husband Raj Kundra decided to colour-coordinate for the event.
Rekha, as usual, looked gorgeous. Would you guess she was 61 years old?
Tabu lightened her black outfit with blingy mojris and a bright red watch.
Hrithik Roshan, who worked with Bhansali in Guzaarish, looks grim.
While Madhuri Dixit, who put in a fabulous performance as Chandramukhi in Bhansali's Devdas, enchanted with her smile.
Sonam Kapoor, who made her debut with Bhansali's ill-fated Saawariya, seems happy to support her mentor.
Incidentally, Saawariya released with Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om, which launched Deepika Padukone.
This time around, it is Deepika and Bansali versus SRK, whose Dilwale hits the screens on the same day (Read Raja Sen's Dilwale review here).
SRK and OSO won that round. Who, we wonder, will win this one?
There's Shahid Kapoor with his pretty wife, Mira Rajput.
We couldn't stop staring at producer Krishika Lulla's shoes.
Smita Thackeray seemed a bit confused. So did her attempt at fusion wear.
Padmini Kolhapure, escorted by husband Pradeep Sharma, made a rare appearance.
Bhansali's sister Bela Sehgal looked elegant.
While music composer Anu Malik, who walked in with wife Anju, looked unusually serious.
T-series head Bhushan Kumar seems to have jogged in from the gym.
Also spotted were Sooraj Pancholi's parents, Aditya Pancholi and Zareena Wahab.
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
