Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming movie Gangubai Kathiawadi is facing legal issues ahead of its world premiere on February 25 after the family of Gangubai sought a stay on the release of the movie.
The film starring Alia Bhatt in the titular role is based on the chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. Sanjay and Hussain have been charged for defamation and the notice also mentions Bhatt.
The family of Gangubai has sought a stay on the release of the movie. Notices have been sent to Sanjay and Hussain and charges of defamation have also been levied against them.
Advocate Narendra Dubey, on behalf of Gangubai’s adopted children, told Hindustan Times, “Nobody wants their mother to be portrayed as a prostitute. Even the son of a prostitute won’t want that. It is just for the sake of money, it assassinates the character of a person. It is not a matter of mother and son, it is a matter of respect and dignity for every woman. No woman would want to be portrayed in such a nude and obscene manner. Even if we believe what Hussain Zaidi wrote in his book, he said Gangubai never wanted to become a prostitute. Would that woman then, want to be portrayed as a prostitute? She was a social worker and her family informed me that Morarji Desai, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to visit her home during elections because she was a renowned face in Kamathipura at that point. She fought for the rights of prostitutes.”
“We moved for a stay soon after the first promo for the film came in 2020. We moved in September 2020. The trial court confirmed the adoption but the high court has asked for proof of adoption. The case (seeking a stay on the film’s release) is now pending in the Supreme Court of India. We hope it gets a hearing before the film releases,” he said.
Recently, Gangubai’s adopted son Baburao and her granddaughter also expressed displeasure over her portrayal in the film. “They have turned my mother into a sex worker and people say things about her. I do not like it,” Baburao told Aaj Tak.
Apart from Alia Bhatt, Gangubai Kathiawadi also features Ajay Devgn and Shantanu M in important roles.
(With inputs from agencies)
