Bajirao would often accompany his father on military campaigns. He was with his father when the latter was imprisoned by Damaji Thorat before being released for a ransom. When Vishwanath died in 1720, Shahu appointed the 20-year old Bajirao as the Peshwa He is said to have preached the ideal of Hindu Pad Padshahi (Hindu Empire), but there are doubts over his or his successors' sincerity on this matter.