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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

Anupam Kher feted by State of Ohio for his four-decade journey in cinema

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Mumbai, Sep 21: Veteran Bollywood star Anupam Kher has been honoured with a special proclamation by the State of Ohio, recognising his over four-decade journey in cinema and the live stage performance of Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane.

Anupam took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself with the special proclamation by the State of Ohio and expressed gratitude to Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel for the honour, saying he accepted it with “immense pride and humility.”

He wrote in the caption section: “DEEPLY HONOURED AND HUMBLED! It is an extraordinary feeling to receive this special proclamation from the State of Ohio, recognising my journey of more than four decades in cinema and our live stage performance of “Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane” in Columbus.”

“My heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Governor of Ohio, Mr. Mike DeWine, and Lieutenant Governor Mr. Jim Tressel, for this wonderful honour. I accept it with immense pride and humility!”

The actor concluded by saying: “Not only for myself, but also with gratitude to the Indian film industry, which has given me my identity, and to the brilliant cast and crew of #JaanePehchaaneAnjane, whose passion and dedication make every performance so special.”

“To be welcomed and recognised in this manner, so far away from home, is deeply moving. Thank you, Ohio, for this unforgettable honour. Jai Hind!”

Anupam made his acting debut with Mahesh Bhatt-directed drama film Saaransh in 1984. Since then, he has worked in a motley of films including Karma, Tezaab, Chaalbaaz, Vijay, Ram Lakhan, Daddy, Saudagar, Dil, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Special 26, Uunchai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, among many others.

He was last seen in the film Tanvi The Great. The film follows Tanvi Raina, a 21-year-old woman on the autism spectrum, who lives with her mother Vidya and grandfather Colonel Pratap Raina.

Inspired by her deceased father, an Indian Army officer who dreamed of saluting the flag at Siachen Glacier, Tanvi becomes determined to follow in his footsteps and join the army to fulfill his dream herself.

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Kriti Sanon crosses pottery art off her bucket list: Make today your ‘Day One’

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Mumbai, Sep 20: Actress Kriti Sanon crossed off another thing on her bucket list, something she had been wanting to learn for years. The ‘Mimi’ actress was seen working on her pottery skills in her latest post on Instagram.

Expressing her excitement about learning a new skill, Kriti penned on the photo-sharing app, “That thing you’ve been wanted to do or learn for years, the one that always made it to your “Things I wanna do this year” list but you never made time for it.. Instead of saying “One day”, yet again, make today your “Day One” ! One of the things on my list was Pottery! The joy of learning a new skill.. its something else! (sic).”

The ‘Cocktail 2’ actress ended her post saying that she, “love being a Work In Progress!”.

Kriti loves to constantly push herself out of her comfort zone and try out new things.

In 2023, she tried her hand at skydiving, ticking off another thing on her bucket list.

She went to Dubai with her sister Nupur Sanon, where the two sisters decided to try skydiving.

Sharing her experience with the netizens, Kriti uploaded a video on her official handle. The clip began with her saying, “Yeah. Butterflies in stomach right now.” After this, the ‘Luka Chuppi’ actress enjoyed her dive in the sky.

Asked how she felt, Kriti said, “Great! This is a like a free bird.”

The adrenaline-filled video was captioned, “Jumping out of my comfort zone! Quite literally!! Wat an incredible experience!! Ticking off my bucket list #SkyDiving.”

Work-wise, Kriti last graced the big screen in Homi Adajania’s “Cocktail 2”, co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.

Released in the cinema halls on 19 June 2026, the sequel turned out to be a moderate commercial success at the ticket counters.

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When Jaya Bachchan talked about roles for older women in Bollywood

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Mumbai, Sep 20: Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan once got candid with filmmaker Karan Johar about the kind of roles offered to older women in Bollywood during her appearance on the popular chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan’.

During the discussion about whether women still get substantial roles as they grow older, Jaya Bachchan shared that she does not mind playing a small part, as long as her character has a purpose and contributes to the story.

KJo said, “I think in Hollywood, there are still roles offered to women.”

To this, Jaya Bachchan reacted, saying, “Not really. I think you know what is important is that I do accept the fact that we are much older.”

She went on to explain, “Yeah. So obviously maybe older people don’t have much to do in life. I don’t know. I mean, I think we are doing a lot more than our children really. Even if it’s a small role, it must have something. There should be a character. Some kind of depth.

Karan pitched in, “Some reason for you to exist within the framework”.

“I don’t mind a small role, but it has to contribute,” concluded Jaya Bachchan.

Talking about Jaya Bachchan’s career trajectory, she first appeared on the screen as a teenager in Satyajit Ray’s Bengali film ‘Mahanagar’ in 1963.

In 1971, she made her Bollywood debut as an adult with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Guddi’, in which she was seen as a schoolgirl infatuated with film star Dharmendra, who played himself in the drama.

After this, she went on to be a part of several noteworthy projects such as ‘Uphaar (1971)’, ‘Koshish (1972)’, ‘Zanjeer (1973)’, ‘Abhimaan (1973)’, ‘Kora Kagaz (1974)’, ‘Chupke Chupke (1975)’, ‘Mili (1975)’, ‘Sholay (1975), and ‘Silsila (1981)’.

Jaya Bachchan took a 17-year-long break from films after Silsila (1981), following her marriage to Amitabh Bachchan in 1973 to focus on her family.

She returned to films in 1998 with Govind Nihalani’s critically acclaimed film ‘Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa’.

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