Not Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted THIS actor to play Gangubai Kathiawadi

Actor Alia Bhatt is garnering immense love and appreciation for her powerful performance as the mafia queen in Gangubai Kathiawadi. The film has already hit the 100 crore mark and is still earning good bucks despite facing competition from Radhe Shyam and The Kashmir Files. This is the first time where Alia has become a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine but did you know Alia Bhatt was not the first choice for Gangubai Kathiwadi? Nope, not even Deepika Padukone. Sanjay wanted his Kashibai Priyanka Chopra Jonas as his Gangubai Kathiawadi.

The only actor who was approached before Alia was Priyanka Chopra but unfortunately, her work commitments in the West was so packed that she couldn’t squeeze the date for SLB. As that didn’t materialise, he quickly thought of Alia who can take forward the titular role. “I don’t know why or how it happened. But I saw my Gangubai in Alia. No one else did. Everyone discouraged me. My entire family thought I had gone mad. But Alia was as Gangubai,” says Bhansali.

Talking about Deepika who has collaborated with Bhansali for three films – Ramleela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, she was reportedly approached for the role but SLB wanted to take a break from the team. Moreover, Alia never discussed remuneration with Sanjay for this film. “Sanjay Sir ko jo bhi theek lage,” Alia has said about her remuneration.

 

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Bollywood Bubble gave 3.5 stars to the film where she praised the Raazi actor for her performance as she wrote, “Alia Bhatt is gorgeous as Gangubai. There are moments where she shines bright, especially her transition from the innocent and gullible Ganga to being the president of Kamathipura, Gangubai. The shift in body language, voice modulation and use of costumes and makeup is unmissable. Gangubai is not an easy role to pull off, but Alia does it convincingly.”

Gangubai Kathiawadi also starring Ajay Devgn, Shantanu Maheshwari was released on February 25 in the theatres.

Also read: Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra: 5 stars who REJECTED Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi