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Review: ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’: Alia steals hearts as Gangubai

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Film: ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ (Running in Theatres); Duration: 157 minutes

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Cast: Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Huma Qureshi, Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh, Chhaya Kadam, Mitali Jagtap, Indira Tiwari, Shantanu Maheshwari

Rating: ****

Auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest oeuvre, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is based on the chapter, ‘The Matriarch of Kamatipura’ from the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai – Stories of Women from the Ganglands’ authored by S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges.

This is the compelling story of Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi, the daughter of a barrister from Kathiawar, who with stardust in her eyes, ran away from home to become an actress only to find herself sold in the brothel of Kamathipura, a neighbourhood of Mumbai famous for flesh-trade. This film unravels Ganga’s journey from a brothel worker to an activist fighting for the rights of the sex workers. In the film, Ganga calls herself “Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawadi.”

While Ganga’s story is filled with pain and pathos, the narrative effortless makes the film appear like a sunshine film that motivates. “Gangubai mahaan nahin thi, woh shaitan bhi nahi thi,” and despite this, Bhansali brilliantly manages to portray her as a larger-than-life character, and you empathise with her when she puts forth her point of view regarding the women of her tribe.

The film is loaded with admirable performances from its ace star cast.

The film is an outright Alia Bhatt’s canvas where she delivers a flawless performance showcasing a gamut of emotions and her dancing skills with aplomb. She steals the show on several counts, be it while speaking to her mother over the phone, or headbutting with Raziabai (Vijay Raaz) the eunuch who is standing for the local elections, or flirting with the apprentice tailor Afshan Razak (Shantanu Maheshwari), or dancing during the Navratri celebrations where she delivers complex steps to an intense song in a seamlessly one lengthy shot.

It is impossible to take your eyes off Ajay Devgn who, in a significantly minor role as the principled mafia don Rahimlala is intense and intimidating all at the same time. Seema Pahwa, who as Sheelamaasi, the madam of the brothel, is fascinating. Similarly, Vijay Raaz as the eunuch Raziabai is enthralling, and Shantanu Maheshwari as Gangubai’s love interest Afshan Razak is charming.

Unfortunately, Huma Qureshi in a stage performance is wasted.

This engaging biopic contains all the tropes of a typical SLB film. Bhansali astutely manages to put his inimitable stamp into every frame of the film, which appears like poetry on the screen, emotionally expressive and attractive. The screenplay is water-tight and engaging, keeping you riveted to the screen for over two and a half hours. The dialogues full of wit and hard-hitting messages are fresh and worth mentioning. Sample this, when Razia challenges Gangubai before the election campaign, Gangubai tells her, “Tuje kyon tevar dikhaongi mein tuje din main tare dikhaongi.”

Mounted with brilliant production qualities the film is visually captivating with well-etched characters, resplendent sets, and period costumes. While the timelines in the film are ambiguous and blurred, it nevertheless captures the period from the mid-1950s to the 1960s, with film posters from that era, prominent among them being ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand.’

The music, as usual, is exceptional but a bit low-key compared to SBL’s previous films. Two songs cater to the Garba audience, and they are both fabulously choreographed and picturised.

Overall, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi,’ is worth watching on the big screen.

Bollywood

Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday promote ‘Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri’ on Amitabh Bachchan’s KBC

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Mumbai, Dec 1: Actors Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday are all geared up for their upcoming movie Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, which is slated for a Christmas release this year.

The actors who are currently on a promotional spree were spotted at the Kaun Banega Crorepati sets on the 1st of December to promote their movie on the iconic quiz reality show hosted by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. Ananaya was seen dressed in a beautiful and classy saree, while Kartik looked dapper in his suit-boot avatar.

Apart from imparting knowledge to the audience, KBC has become a hotspot for movie and show promotions for the entertainment industry, owing to its popularity. Earlier, the cast of Family Man, Jaideep Ahlawat, Manoj Bajpayee, and Sharib Hashmi, had appeared on the show to promote their series. The cast, along with Big B, was seen having a blast.

Talking about Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, Kartik and Ananya were recently in the city of Jaipur to promote their movie. At a packed press conference in Jaipur, Kartik was seen opening up about Ananya’s journey as an actress, especially when asked what it felt like to come together again after seven years, referring to the movie Pati, Patni Aur Woh.

The actor had recalled how she was just starting out when they first collaborated and how today she stands tall with a newfound confidence, sharper craft, and a mature ease that shows both on and off screen. Kartik also spoke warmly about watching Ananya grow not just as an actor but also as a person. Reuniting after their Pati Patni Aur Woh days, the duo seemed to slip straight back into their spark. Recently, Kartik and Ananya had opened up about filming the title track of “Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri”

Kartik, in a statement, had shared, “The energy on set while shooting this track was an absolute banger!! Vishal and Sheykhar have delivered something extraordinary with this one. And with Remo bringing his magic to the choreography, the vibe on set was next-level electric. Can’t wait to see the audience grooving on this track!! ”

Ananya had added, “This track is totally on fire! It captures the entire feel of the film, the fun, the chaos, and the electric connection between Rumi and Ray. We had such a blast shooting it, and I truly believe this is the biggest party anthem of the season.” She added, “Huge props to Vishal and Sheykhar for this banger! And of course, Remo sir’s choreography just makes you want to get up and dance; he brought such infectious energy to the song with his choreography! ”The season’s biggest, loudest, and most addictive banger.”

On November 28, the makers of the upcoming film released the first and the title track, “Tu Meri Main Tera”. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, the film is slated to release this Christmas on 25th December.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu Shares FIRST Wedding Photos With Raj Nidimoru, Exchanges Rings At Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation In Coimbatore

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru are officially married! The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, at the Linga Bhairavi Temple, with reportedly only 30 guests in attendance.

In the photos, Samantha was seen wearing a traditional red saree. The couple also exchanged rings. In one of the photos, Samantha was adorably looking at her husband, while Raj could not stop beaming with a smile at their wedding

Born in Chennai on April 28, 1987, Samantha is currently 38 years old, while her husband, Raj, born on August 4, 1979, is 46. This makes an age gap of 8 years between the two.

Despite the age difference, the couple seems to share a strong bond.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu was previously married to Naga Chaitanya, and Nidimoru was previously married to Sshyamali De.

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Tere Ishk Mein Box Office Collection Day 1: Kriti Sanon’s Film Earns ₹16 Cr, Becomes 2025’s Second-Biggest Romantic Opener After Saiyaara

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Kriti Sanon and Dhanush’s starrer Tere Ishk Mein released in theatres on Friday, November 28, clashing with Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Gustaakh Ishq. While audience reviews for Tere Ishk Mein were disappointing, with some calling it ‘more toxic than Delhi’s AQI,’ and others saying the second half ‘lost the plot’ and slamming it as ‘cringe and unconvincing,’ according to many on X, the box office numbers tell a different story.

The film opened to a massive Rs 16 crore on Day 1, marking the second-biggest opening for a romantic movie this year, after Ahaan Panday’s Saiyaara, which led with Rs 21.5 crore. On its release day, Tere Ishk Mein recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 25.77%. The Hindi (2D) occupancy across theatres stood at 15.29% for morning shows, 21.67% for afternoon shows, 24.55% for evening shows, and 41.56% for night shows.

While Tere Ishk Mein has also managed to outperform some major 2025 Bollywood releases, including Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 3 (Rs 12 crore) and Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par (Rs 10.70 crore).

The film is out and out a Dhanush film. For all those who are yearning to see ‘Dhanush-isms,’ this film won’t disappoint. Ditto for Kriti Sanon, who, in an attempt to deliver a believable performance, also gets let down by the film’s narrative. There are many impossible things which have been shown in the film under the pretext of cinematic liberties. Veteran actor Prakash Raj is ‘just there’ in the film, without creating any ‘roaring’ impact.

As for the film’s direction, filmmaker Aanand L Rai who has always been considered as a ‘slice of life storyteller’ not just fails miserably, but also lands up testing the sensibilities and patience (in that order) of the audiences with this film

Tere Ishk Mein is a spiritual sequel to the 2013 hit Raanjhanaa starring Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush.

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