What's New
On the occasion of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 58th birthday, the much-anticipated teaser of his tenth directorial was released. Here's everything you need to know about Alia Bhatt's role in the film
2021, other than offering us a slew of OTT content, also has many silver screen releases in store for us, if things go well. Most recently, fans waiting with bated breath were surprised with the teaser drop of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt as the titular lead, set to hit cinemas on July 30, 2021. The clip showed Bhatt transform into the powerful owner of a brothel in Kamathipura, the red light district of Mumbai. Alongside Bhatt, the film boasts a star-studded cast of Ajay Devgn, Huma Qureshi, Emraan Hashmi, and more. It's an on-screen adaption of chapters from Hussain Zaidi's acclaimed novel, Mafia Queens of Mumbai (2011), based on personal and true stories of sex workers.
The teaser also gives a glimpse of the high octane drama that can be expected of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial, with extravagant sets and costumes, and gripping music. You can see Gangubai, the lead character, as a beloved and formidable figure in Mumbai's Kamathipura, being celebrated by the women she supports, asking them not to be fearful of anything—not the police, not politicians and not of pimps—through a power-packed dialogue. The movie will likely capture her life story from being sold into the sex trade to coming into her own and crushing her foes.
Earlier today, Bhatt took to Instagram to share the initial look of her upcoming film, along with a heartfelt message and birthday wishes for Bhansali, “Happy Birthday Sir…I can think of no better way to celebrate you and your birthday. Presenting a part of my heart & soul.” The video has already received love and acclamation from many of her peers in Bollywood including Dia Mirza, Aditi Rao Hydari, Neha Dhupia, and more.
Her feisty new role only adds to Bhatt's repertoire of powerful female characters, including that of an Indian spy, Sehmat in Raazi (2018), the small-town girl Pinky in Udta Punjab (2016), the out-of-place twenty-something Veera in Highway, and more.
Gangubai Kathiawadi is set to release in cinemas on July 30, 2021