Ever since cinema maverick Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced his upcoming ambitious project Gangubai Kathiawadi with Alia Bhatt, avid film watchers and fans of the duo were sent into a zone of excitement, naturally. The venture that assures to be high on great performances and a grandeur that every vision can behold till eternity, Gangubai Kathiawadi is undoubtedly awaited by the entire nation. However, it seems the sudden Coronavirus outbreak in India and the lockdown will incur a major loss to the makers. According to a report on an entertainment portal, the beautifully mounted set of Gangubai Kathiawadi in Film City in Mumbai will be demolished before the monsoon arrives. As per the buzz, the set cost the makers nearly Rs.6 crores and a source close to the development informed that it is one of the most expensive and biggest ones created for films.
“Bhansali and his leading lady Alia Bhatt were hoping that the current coronavirus crisis would blow over after some time. But as weeks of a lockdown seem to be turning into months, the fear that Bollywood filmmakers won’t be able to shoot until 2021 is driving one of the world’s most active entertainment industries into a bundle of nerves. Bhansali’s set is one of the biggest most detailed and expensive sets ever created for a film. He was hoping to return to it after the lockdown. But soon the monsoon will set in. Before that, the set would have to be taken down," the source told.
Gangubai Kathiawadi is based on a brothel madam from the red light area, Kamathipura in Mumbai. She is said to have changed the face of the region and is one of the most remembered women from the history of Mumbai. Gangubai is believed to have been pushed into prostitution at a very young age and became the most influential pimp, having served several renowned criminals from the city. Gangubai Kathiawadi will be co-produced by Sanjay and Jayantilal Gada of Pen India Ltd. It is tentatively scheduled to release on September 11, 2020. Reports did the rounds that the film will be pushed ahead due to the lockdown.
(Source: Bollywood Hungama)