Gangubai Kathiawadi Alia Bhatt

Gangubai Kathiawadi could give wind to the sails of change in Bollywood’s hackneyed representation of sex workers

Films like Mandi, Dev.D, Begum Jaan, and Anaarkali of Aarah empowered their women with agency. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming Gangubai Kathiawadi could be the latest addition to this formidable list.

Alia Bhatt on navigating Gangubai Kathiawadi: Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to keep it both entertaining and intense

"Sanjay Leela Bhansali and I have great synergy. Nobody has wanted me to do so well before. I was being pushed to do my best,” says Alia Bhatt about her Gangubai Kathiawadi director.

Humbug litigation against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, a nasty trend that must stop

The point is about nuisance litigation against films whereby an effort is made to block a release just weeks or days before the scheduled Friday. This must stop. It is nothing but a form of extortion.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali opens up on Gangubai Kathiawadi's warm reception at Berlinale: 'Deeply moved'

"Gangubai Kathiawadi is set in Mumbai of the 1960s, a very specific culture. But the Berlin audience saw the film the way we wanted it to be seen: as a humane, emotional, warm, and funny story of a woman who lived life on her own terms," says Bhansali.

Gangubai Kathiawadi first impression: Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial is worth every pandemic-fatigued film lover's salt

Alia as Gangubai soaks it all in with so much conviction, lugging this tremendous burden of portraying a brothel madam turned gangster placed on her back with consummate grace.