Gangubai Kathiawadi is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language biographical crime film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, written by Utkarshini Vashishtha and produced by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada under their respective banners Bhansali Productions and Pen India Limited.
The film stars Alia Bhatt in the title role and is based on a chapter of Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai about Gangubai Kothewali, the madam of a brothel in Kamathipura. Principal photography started on 27 December 2019 in Mumbai. The film was scheduled for theatrical release on 11 September 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
The film is about the life of Gangubai Kathiawadi, a young girl sold into prostitution by her boyfriend Ramnik Lal, and how she becomes the madam of a brothel in Kamathipura.
The Woman Behind Alia Bhatt
The first look of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi is making waves on social media. Starring Alia Bhatt in the lead role, along with Ajay Devgn, is set to release on September 11 this year. The film, that will be Alia’s first project with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is based on the life of a real-life mafia queen.
The film’s first look, which sees Alia as Gangubai, is being showered with love both by the actor’s fans and industry friends. Deepika Padukone wrote “love” and attached a heart emoji in the comments section on Alia’s Instagram post. Ranveer Singh, who worked with Alia in Zoya Akhtar’s 2019 film Gully Boy, wrote, “Here she is indeed Lulu, the gangster. Come on.
But who was Gangubai Kathiawadi, on whose life this film is based? Gangubai Kathiawadi was an Indian criminal, don, sex worker, businesswoman; all in all, a controversial figure from Kathiawar, India. She operated a sex racket in the Hera Mandi red light district. She was a very influential figure in Mumbai through the 60s.
Ganga Harjeevan Das Kathiawadi was born in 1939 in Kathiawar. She came from a well-settled family, being the only girl child in her family. Thus she was pampered by her parents. She studied a local government school of Gujarat and despite finishing her school education she didn’t study further.
Gangubai fell in love with her father’s accountant and ran away with him to Mumbai at the age of 16. Kathiawadi is said to have been interested in acting and wanted to try her luck in films. But her life changed when her husband sold her for Rs. 500 to a brothel, forcing her into prostitution.
Gangubai slowly rose to power through her links with the Mumbai underworld. She maintained and operated many brothels in the red light district of the city, ultimately earning herself the name, ‘Madam of Kamathipura’. She rode in a black Bentley, the only brothel owner to have one in those times.
Because of her personal ordeal, Gangubai was compassionate towards other women from the community. She used her influence to champion the rights of sex workers and their empowerment and affirmed that her job didn’t authorize anyone to violate her. Reportedly, she even requested then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to address difficulties encountered by sex workers. Her attempts to better the living conditions in Kamathipura won her respect from the community.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Cast
- Alia Bhatt as Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Ajay Devgn as Karim Lala
- Emraan Hashmi
- Shantanu Maheshwari as Ramnik Lal
- Shakib Khan
- Vijay Raaz
- Seema Pahwa
- M.K. Raina as Jawaharlal Nehru
Gangubai Kathiawadi Release Date
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt will be seen stepping into the shoes of legendary brothel owner Gangubai Kathiawadi in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film. On Wednesday, the makers unveiled two looks of the actress from the biopic and wrote, “Strength. Power. Fear! One look, a thousand emotions.
Presenting the first look of #GangubaiKathiawadi. In cinemas 11 September 2020.” Soon after the poster hit the internet, the actress became the topic of discussion all over for playing a bold role. While Sanjay Leela Bhansali has announced the release date of the film, not much has been told about the life of the brothel owner. Today, we are going to take you into the controversial life of the ‘Mafia Queen.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Trailer
The review of the film will be coming soon
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