All About Gangubai Kathiawadi, Whose Role Alia Bhatt Will Essay In Sanjay Leela Bhansali Film
Who was Gangubai Kathiawadi? Alia Bhatt will essay the role of sex worker and brothel owner who was pushed into prostitution and then advocated rights of sex workers. She was one of the most dreaded woman in Mumbai's underworld. Alia Bhatt will play her role in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next and much hyped film Gangubai Kathiawadi stars Alia Bhatt in a lead role. The movie which is already courting controversy is based on the life of powerful and controversial woman Gangubai Kothewali, who was hailed as Madam of Kamathipura in the '60s.
Here's all you need to know about the don lady whose life is explored in the SLB film based on journalist S Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai.
A sex worker, who was forced into prostitution by her boyfriend
It is said that Gangubai Kathiawadi hailed from a reputed family of lawyers in Kathiawad area of Gujarat. At a very young age, she ran away from her home with her boyfriend, who was her father's accountant, and came to Mumbai. It is said that her boyfriend forced her into prostitution in the read light area of Kamathipura.
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Sold for Rs 500 reportedly
She was an aspiring actress who aimed to see herself on the big screen one day but she was pushed into the world of prostitution. But she rose about it all and became a mafia queen of Mumbai.
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One of the most dreaded women in the Mumbai's underworld
After going through a tough time, she rose in power through her connections with Mumbai underworld. Underworld don Karim Lala made her his rakhi sister and from here on, her life took a new turn.
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The brothel queen
Thereafter, she owned and managed several brothels in the read light district of the city, eventually earning the title of Madam of Kamathipura. She became so rich that she would drive a black Bentley.
Owner of gold sarees and black Bentley
Not only expensive cars, she was known for her sarees with gold borders and saree blouses with gold buttons.
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An advocate for rights of sex workers
After going through a lot of hardships herself, she had empathy for other women in the community. She stood up for them and their right, and thus, empoweredthem. She believed that whatever work women do, it doesn't give anyone right to abuse them. She took part in woman empowerment summit with the social workers and NGOs.
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Meeting with then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru
Her speech was applauded by then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. She even met with him to discuss the problems of sex workers in the red light area.
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai Kathiawadi is slate to be released on July 30.
Garima Satija leads the Entertainment vertical of Indiatimes. A storyteller at heart who enjoys the thrill of writing, she is sometimes found daydreaming about living the lives of movie characters. Also, she hates talking about herself in the third person.
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