At Rs 500 million, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas has been an obsession for the last two years.

It marks the third time that Bengali littérateur Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic has been adapted on the Hindi screen.

It sees three of the Bollywood's biggest stars -- Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan -- come together for the first time to spearhead an ensemble cast boasting the likes of Jackie Shroff, Kiron Kher and Smita Jayakar.

It is possibly the only salvation for the film industry, which has not seen a superhit since last year's Karan Johar opus Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Deaths on its sets, the imprisonment of its producer Bharat Shah, a troublesome back problem bothering lead actor SRK, lead actress Aishwarya Rai's tempestuous relationship with actor Salman Khan, a fallout between Jackie Shroff and Bhansali, a director driven to the brink of a nervous breakdown...
The obstacles were many, but Devdas, though dogged by controversy, survived, determined to see the light of 70mm.

Devdas, thus, now emerges not just a tribute to love. It is also a tribute to the human spirit.

As the film hits theatres July 12, rediff.com takes you on a voyage through its making, bringing you behind-the-scenes gossip, exclusive interviews with the cast and crew. Browse through our exclusive section with players from past versions of the classic.

Be it at Cannes or New York, see Devdas go global or take the poll and enjoy the special downloads.

Come, feel the magic.

Design: Uday Kuckian