With barely days left for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' to hit theatres, Alia Bhatt who stars as and in Gangubai speaks to WION about reactions to the film at the Berlinale 2022, playing strong women characters on screen and more

Exclusive Interview with 'Gangubai' Alia Bhatt

Sanjay Leela &nbsp;Bhansali’s 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is all set for a February 25 release with the biggest theatrical release since the pandemic set in two years ago. As many as 2,000 prints of the film will be screened in multiplexes and single screens across the country. This is not only the biggest release for Alia Bhatt but also one of the biggest releases ever for a film starring a female hero.

An inside source reveals,“'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is a Sanjay Leela Bhansali creation. He is India’s most venerated director. A film by Bhansali is an event. It happens once in &nbsp;2-3 years. The co-producer Pen India Ltd &nbsp;feels this film has the potential to do for Hindi cinema what 'Pushpa' has done: break &nbsp;the &nbsp;jinx on &nbsp;theatre releases, bring back &nbsp;audiences in &nbsp;optimum &nbsp;numbers after &nbsp;the pandemic.”

By the director’s own admission, 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', which is his tenth directorial, is his best film to date.

“Bhansali has stepped out of his comfort zone to make a film on crime and punishment which will shock those who expect another costume drama from him and surprise those who think the director is too romantic to visit the rugged hinterland,” says a source from the film’s core team.

The few lucky souls who have seen some rushes of 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' feel Bhansali’s new violent dialect puts him right up there with the celluloid masters of gangsterism. In its seamless verger of crime and drama, 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is comparable with Nitin Bose’s &nbsp;'Ganga Jumna' and Yash Chopra’s 'Deewaar'. 
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is all set for a February 25 release with the biggest theatrical release since the pandemic set in two years ago. As many as 2,000 prints of the film will be screened in multiplexes and single screens across the country.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is all set for a February 25 release with the biggest theatrical release since the pandemic set in two years ago. As many as 2,000 prints of the film will be screened in multiplexes and single screens across the country. This is not only the biggest release for Alia Bhatt but also one of the biggest releases ever for a film starring a female hero. An inside source reveals,“'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is a Sanjay Leela Bhansali creation. He is India’s most venerated director. A film by Bhansali is an event. It happens once in 2-3 years. The co-producer Pen India Ltd feels this film has the potential to do for Hindi cinema what 'Pushpa' has done: break the jinx on theatre releases, bring back audiences in optimum numbers after the pandemic.” By the director’s own admission, 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', which is his tenth directorial, is his best film to date. “Bhansali has stepped out of his comfort zone to make a film on crime and punishment which will shock those who expect another costume drama from him and surprise those who think the director is too romantic to visit the rugged hinterland,” says a source from the film’s core team. The few lucky souls who have seen some rushes of 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' feel Bhansali’s new violent dialect puts him right up there with the celluloid masters of gangsterism. In its seamless verger of crime and drama, 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' is comparable with Nitin Bose’s 'Ganga Jumna' and Yash Chopra’s 'Deewaar'.

'Gangubai Kathiawadi' to get the biggest release since the pandemic

As Maharashtra gears up to open theatres across the state from October, filmmakers have been blocking dates to release their films. The release date of several big-budget films has been announced in the recent past. Now, Alia Bhatt starrer 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' has also got a release date.&nbsp; 
 
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is scheduled to hit theatres on January 6, 2022.&nbsp; 
 
The film will have Alia playing a madam of a brothel in Mumbai. It is based on Hussain Zaidi’s book and will see Alia Bhatt don a new look as she plays a mafia queen and owner of a brothel.&nbsp;

&lt;<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xK2_6yX7aF8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-its-a-wrap-for-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-gangubai-kathiawadi-starring-alia-bhatt-394252">It's a wrap for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' starring Alia Bhatt</a> 
 
The film also features Ajay Devgn in a cameo role.&nbsp; 
 
Bhansali directorial was the first film to resume production in June after the second coronavirus wave and is now scheduled to release in theatres in Jan 2022. The filmmaker and the lead actress both tested positive for coronavirus and filming had to halt in the middle.&nbsp; 
 
The film took two years to complete and Alia Bhatt had shared an emotional post earlier this year when the film's shoot wrapped up.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-alia-bhatt-ranbir-kapoor-spark-wedding-rumours-after-being-spotted-leaving-for-jodhpur-416314">Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor spark wedding rumours after being spotted leaving for Jodhpur</a>

As Maharashtra gears up to open theatres across the state from October, filmmakers have been blocking dates to release their films. The release date of several big-budget films has been announced in the recent past.

As Maharashtra gears up to open theatres across the state from October, filmmakers have been blocking dates to release their films. The release date of several big-budget films has been announced in the recent past. Now, Alia Bhatt starrer 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' has also got a release date. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is scheduled to hit theatres on January 6, 2022. The film will have Alia playing a madam of a brothel in Mumbai. It is based on Hussain Zaidi’s book and will see Alia Bhatt don a new look as she plays a mafia queen and owner of a brothel. < It's a wrap for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' starring Alia Bhatt The film also features Ajay Devgn in a cameo role. Bhansali directorial was the first film to resume production in June after the second coronavirus wave and is now scheduled to release in theatres in Jan 2022. The filmmaker and the lead actress both tested positive for coronavirus and filming had to halt in the middle. The film took two years to complete and Alia Bhatt had shared an emotional post earlier this year when the film's shoot wrapped up. Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor spark wedding rumours after being spotted leaving for Jodhpur

Alia Bhatt's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' to release in India on this date