MUMBAI: In a unique marketing initiative, Eros International’s OTT platform Eros Now unveiled the first look of India’s first animated digital series, Blazing Bajirao for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus, Bajirao Mastani.

Blazing Bajirao is dedicated to the adventures and victories of Bajirao Ballal Bhat, Peshwa to the fourth Maratha emperor, Chhatrapati Shahu Raje Bhonsle.

Speaking on the origin and creation of Blazing Bajirao, ErosNow chief creative officer Vaibhav Vishal said, “The approach behind the series has been two-pronged. First, educate the audiences about Bajirao, the legend of Bajirao Mastani and the socio-political-cultural history of the era. Second and more importantly, make Bajirao the hero that he must be for our young audiences. We want them to know how cool he was, discover and associate with the charisma of Bajirao. And, in the process, get ready for the film when it releases.”

“Had Bajirao been on Twitter, he would have been one of the biggest influencers around. So come to think of it, he always was a superhero. To showcase the magnificence of Bajirao’s character, we have got the best people in the business to do the series; the graphic style is unlike anything that has been seen before in any Indian series,” he adds.

A first for the Indian film industry, Blazing Bajirao is a full-fledged digital graphic series, created for the audiences to familiarize themselves with the lives and histories of the lead characters - Bajirao and Mastani - ahead of the release of film Bajirao Mastani.

Produced by Eros International and Bhansali Productions, written and directed by Bhansali, Bajirao Mastani tells the story of one of the least known parts of Indian history - that of the Maratha and Peshwa princes and the love story of Bajirao and his second wife Mastani.

The movie is slated to release worldwide on 18 December, 2015.