Adapted from a chapter of the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, written by writer and journalist S. Hussain Zaidi in the year 2011. The chapter depicts the life and circumstances of Gangubai Harjivandas or just locally (now popularly) known as Gangubai Kathiawadi; an Indian sex worker who later in her life achieved the position of a madam of a brothel in Kamathipura, Mumbai in the 1960s. Sold into prostitution at an early age by her suitor, her later life was spent as the Madam of Kamathipura for being an influential pimp in the city with multiple underworld connections. The film is based on a true story and the only brothel owner to own a Bentley.
Gangubai Kathiawadi, an upcoming Hindi biographical crime drama film starring Alia Bhatt and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Along with Shantanu Maheshwari and Vijay Raj, Ajay Devgan and Emraan Hashmi have featured in extended cameo appearances. Alia Bhatt as Gangubai plays the role of a simple girl from Kathiawar who had no choice but to embrace her destiny and swing it in her own favor. The movie walks through the life of young Ganga, who marks her own territory and becomes Gangubai madame of the red-light zone of Kamathipura.
On the occasion – the wrap of the movie and its completion of the entire shoot, actor Alia Bhatt took to her social media and penned down a heartwarming note on her exhilarating journey of working in the film.
She wrote: “We started shooting Gangubai on the 8th of December 2019 .. and we wrapped the film now 2 years later!
This film and set has been through two lockdowns.. two cyclones.. director and actor getting covid during the making!!! The troubles the set has faced is another film all together!
But through all that and more.. what I take away is the gigantic life changing experience!
Being directed by sir has been a dream all my life, but I don’t think anything would have prepared me for the journey I was on for these two years.. I walk out of this set as a diff person today!
I love you sir! Thank you for being you .. there is truly NO ONE like you 🪄✨
When a film ends a part of you ends with it! Today I’ve lost a part of me.. Gangu I love you! You will be missed♥️
P.S – special mention to my crew – my family and friends for these two years! without you nothing would have been possible! Love you guys!!!
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Wrapping its shoot after 2 years, the cast and crew came together to celebrate it in Mumbai’s film festival. Alia Bhatt gets emotional at the wrap party; shares a photo of a special cake for the Gangubai Kathiawadi wrap party.
Actor Indira Tiwari also wrote on her social media handle, ‘This is Something so close to my heart, It’s a Dream come true journey of Weaving the perfection in reality with my Master & his Team. Finally its a #wrap…Thank you everyone, epecially Dear Sir @shrutimahajancasting @aliaabhatt @sudeepchatterjee.isc @bhansaliproductions @penmovies’
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Photographer Sudeep Chatterjee posted a promo of this film with his selected picture. He wrote, ‘My biggest critic, my biggest inspiration …. the reason I push myself to get better every day….. That is SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI for me!’
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A film that celebrates the rise of a simple girl from Kathiawadi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings to his audience yet another moving and winding story with a packed performance of thrill and crime laced in magical musical anecdotes. Promising to make everyone feel inspired this year, this movie Gangubai Kathiawadi celebrates the journey of a female who later becomes the voice of women empowerment. The movie is set to be released on the 30th of July 2021. Predicted to be released theatrically worldwide once the ongoing pandemic situation in the country eases.
By Sayeri
