- Posted by Filmi Beat, last updated on 13 May, 2022

Alia Bhatt had a litmus test

Significantly, Alia Bhatt’s casting in Bhansali’s film was like a litmus test. Actually, Gangubai was not made for Alia. Instead of this film, Alia Bhatt signed Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah but Salman Khan rejected the film. But Alia had also rejected Laal Singh Chaddha with Aamir Khan in the affair of doing Inshallah with Salman Khan. Bhansali had outright dates with Alia which he did not want to let go of and that was the reason why he decided to form Gangubai Kathiawadi with Alia.

Deepika Padukone was Gangu’s choice

Before Alia Bhatt, this film was offered to Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Rani Mukerji. Firstly, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to make this film with Rani Mukerji. But there were ideological differences between the two and Rani did not agree to do the film. After this the film reached Deepika Padukone. At that time, Deepika had finalized Vishal Bhardwaj’s film Sapna Didi. Deepika Padukone was supposed to play a gangster in Sapna Didi and she told Bhansali no to Gangubai.

Priyanka was final after Ram Leela

Priyanka Chopra settled in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mind after doing an item in Ram Leela. Priyanka was the finalist for Gangubai, just waiting to get her dates. On the other hand, Bhansali along with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt announced the release of Inshallah on Eid 2020. But when Inshallah stopped, Alia suffered a lot and she expressed this to Bhansali as well. Along with this, Alia also expressed to Bhansali how badly she wants to work in his next project.

First audition for Bhansali at the age of 11

Bhansali also did not want to let Alia’s dates go anywhere as he has known Alia’s talent ever since Alia had done a test shoot with Ranbir for a film titled Balika Vadhu for Bhansali at the age of 11. At that time Ranbir was 20 years old. Eventually, Gangubai Kathiawadi came to Alia’s side. For the first time in the film, Bhansali will be seen portraying Alia Bhatt in a dark character.

The audition was given for the character of Black.

On the other hand, working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Alia Bhatt is no less than a dream. Alia has given auditions for Bhansali’s films twice before but Bhansali did not cast Alia. Alia Bhatt auditioned for the childhood role of Rani Mukerji for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. But Bhansali liked Alia’s audition so much that she did not want to see Alia’s debut with such a small character.

Queen Gangu of Kamathipura

The film Gangubai Kathiawadi is based on the mafia queen of the 60s who runs a kotha in Kamatipura but was a god to the girls there. The film is based on Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. The film is the real story of the life of Koth. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films are known for their set design and art direction, Gangubai also looks magical on that level.

box office earnings

Gangubai Kathiawadi, released in theaters on February 25. The film had an opening of 10.5 crores and then slowed down at the box office. The film earned a total of 128 crores and hence did not make any profit at the box office. Gangubai Kathiawadi is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s weakest film at the box office. The film is made on a budget of 180 crores.