Is Gangubai Kathiawadi Based On A True Story?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s biographical drama movie Gangubai Kathiawadi was directed by Bhansali and published by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada in the year 2022. The movie is based on a section from the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai by Hussain Zaidi. is the story of Ganga Harjivandas, a modest Kathiawad girl who had to embrace the ways of fate and turn them to her advantage.

It follows Ganga’s journey as she began operating as a sex worker and quickly establishes her personal territory, eventually establishing as Gangubai, a madame in Kamathipura’s red-light district, with Alia Bhatt as Gangubai. Other supporting characters include Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Shantanu Maheshwari,  Varun Kapoor, and Seema Pahwa.

Is Gangubai Kathiawadi Based On A True Story?

Is Gangubai Kathiawadi Based On A True Story

Yes, the movie is based on true occurrences ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ narrates the story of Ganga, a little girl who grows up to become Gangubai, a milady in Kamathipura’s red-light district. It is partially inspired by the historical event of Gangubai Harjivandas, also renowned as Gangubai Kothewali, whose existence was chronicled in S. Hussain Zaidi’s book “Mafia Queens of Mumbai.”

Gangubai Kathiawadi was birthed in Kathiawadi, Gujrat, under the name Gangubai Harjivandas. Gangubai aspired to be a Bollywood star, according to S Hussain Zaidi’s book “Mafia Queens of Mumbai,” but she was sold into sexual slavery at an early age. At the tender age of 16, she fell madly in love with his father’s bookkeeper and fled the scene with him to Mumbai.

While she was daydreaming of a wonderful future, the man betrayed her and sold her for Rs 500 to a prostitute. Ganga was devastated by this treachery, but her fresh start as Gangubai began. She had become a prostitute and moved to Mumbai’s red-light district. According to Gangubai’s segment in Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai,’ Gangubai was one of the most important figures in Mumbai’s largest red-light district, known as ‘Kamathipura.’ Her clients included a number of subterranean mafia figures. Karim Lala, alongside Haji Mastan and Varadarajan, was one of the city’s most important Mafia figures in the 1960s, and he used to rule the underground. Karim was also in charge of Kamathipura’s red-light district.

ALSO READ: Borgia Season 4 Release Date, Story, And Cast Updates!

Gangubai came to one of the most powerful Mafia Don Karim Lala to pursue retribution in one of the events. According to the book, she was molested by a man of Karim’s group, and she appealed to him for vengeance. Later, Karim Lala and Gangu’s connection took a new turn when Gangu declared him her brother by tying the rakhi around his wrist. Karim Lala also regarded Gangu like a sister, handing over the reins of Kamathipura to his sister Gangubai, who became known as one of Mumbai’s “Mafia Queens.”

Gangubai Kathiawadi Death Reason

Gangubai rose above the tragedies to become the most successful figure in Mumbai’s Kamathipura neighborhood. She ran her private brothel, and she never kept a female in it without her permission. She also advocated for sex workers’ and orphans’ welfare. At the very same time, she spearheaded a protest against the closure of Mumbai’s prostitution market. The Gangubai statue may still be found in Kamathipura, Mumbai.

Gangubai Kathiawadi Controversies

The Alia Bhatt-starrer movie is in legal complications, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the actress, and filmmaker have been questioned by a Mumbai court. Babu Rawji Shah, one of Kathiawadi’s 4 kids, has launched a felony defamation lawsuit against the actor and filmmaker. The film, according to Shah, is slanderous. He claims that some scenes in the movie were libelous and tainted the reputation of his mother, a prominent madam from Mumbai’s red-light district in the 1960s.

Residents of Kamathipura organized a protest and yelled slogans before the film’s debut, accusing it of portraying the neighborhood in a negative light. Locals, wielding Gangubai Kathiawadi banners and posters, claim that the film’s depiction of Kamathipura is inaccurate and demeaning. ‘Their Kamathipura is 250 years old, many scientists, pilots, and physicians lived there, but they are slandered because of films,’ the individuals reportedly asserted. However, after showing up for interviews, many are not getting hired. It’s frustrating to hear!’ They also asked that the movie be outlawed.

Gangubai Kathiawadi Cast

Is Gangubai Kathiawadi Based On A True Story

The main cast of Gangubai Kathiawadi includes Alia Bhatt as Ganga Harjivandas / Gangubai Kathiawadi, Ajay Devgn as Rahim Lala, Shantanu Maheshwari as Afsaan, Vijay Raaz as Razia Bai.  Indira Tiwari as Kamli, Seema Bhargava Pahwa, Varun Kapoor, Jim Sarbh as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Huma Qureshi as Dilruba. 

Gangubai Kathiawadi 2 Release Date

No official confirmation for the second part of Gangubai has been made yet, which tells that this was the only story they had about Gangubai. So, a second part of the movie is very unlikely.

Gangubai Kathiwadi Release Date25 February 2022
Gangubai Kathiwadi 2 Release DateVery Unlikely to release

ALSO READ: High Season 2 Release Date And Spoilers!