Gangubai Kathiawadi: “I didn’t know who Gangubai is, I only got to know once I read the script,” says Alia Bhatt : Bollywood News

Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi is all set to hit theatres on 25th February 2022. The film is loosely based on the true story of Gangubai Harjivandas, popularly known as Gangubai Kothewali, whose life was documented in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S. Hussain Zaidi. The narrative of the film walks through the life of young Ganga who in no time marks her own territory and becomes Gangubai – a Madame in the red light area of Kamathipura, Mumbai.

Gangubai Kathiawadi: “I didn’t know who Gangubai is, I only got to know once I read the script,” says Alia Bhatt

Recently, Alia Bhatt interacted with the press during the promotions of the film on 12th February 2022. During the meet, when Alia was questioned if she know about Gangubai's story prior to the film, she revealed, "No, I didn't know. Once I read the script is when I found out okay, oh, this also happened. And I did a little bit more digging and read Hussin Zaidi's book and that chapter in the book. We also met with the author and spoke a little bit more. So, that was the kind of research that we did about the part."

When asked about the reports claiming if she met any real-life sex workers, she said, "No, I didn't meet anyone, I didn't think I needed to also and I just it didn't happen naturally. What would I have actually taken from it? It's not like we're making a documentary. It's about this one person and her life story. So the beats were there for me to learn. I did watch one, two documentaries, just to observe those facial expressions. Like there's a little bit of a deadness that comes in their face because of all the situations that they go through. So there's almost like you hit rock bottom, so there's no way for you to like you're not really active about you know, what they feel. So I absorbed those things, but I didn't need to like meet them because you know, I can't do that.

Gangubai Kathiawadi has also been selected to be screened at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival in February and will have its world premiere at the festival, to be screened as part of Berlinale Special, a segment of the film festival which is dedicated to showcasing exemplary cinema.

Viacom18 Studios & Paramount Pictures International will be distributing Gangubai Kathiawadi in all International markets outside of India. Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Dr. Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios), the film is all set to release theatrically on 25th February 2022.

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