Twenty-two years after the iconic love ballad Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ajay Devgn are collaborating yet again! As exclusively revealed in November 2019, the superstar has agreed to play a cameo in Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi that stars Alia Bhatt in the titular role of a notorious mafia brothel queen of Kamathipura in Mumbai. Now, we have learnt that Ajay will shoot for his portions this month-end at Film City studio where a lavish set has been erected to film his scenes set in the 1970s.
"Ajay Devgn plays the role of dreaded Karim Lala who was the godfather of Bombay’s Pathans, one of the three legendary mafia dons including Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar who ruled the city between the 1960s and 1970s. He taught Gangubai the tricks of the trade and played a major role in her rise as a legend in Mumbai's streets, lanes and back-alleys. Ajay's character is not a typical cameo but rather an extended cameo appearance that holds an important place in the film's storyline. He is said to have allotted 10-12 days to film his portions that mostly includes the intense talkie portions with Alia," a source close to the project told us.
It's said that Karim Lala used to treat Gangubai as his rakhi sister and had strictly warned everyone against ill-treating her. She was a sex worker who turned into a mafia queen after one of Karim Lala’s gang members did not pay her. Furious Gangubai approached Lala and the two became firm friends. Gangubai's life is believed to have taken a new turn only after that as she made connections with the underworld, police and other figures of power.
The crime biographical that explores the life of Gangubai— and how, on cold blood, she was able to make her way up in what was certainly a man's world— is said to be nearing completion with the last schedule expected to be wrapped by mid-March. Alia will apparently complete the filming for two grand dance numbers before joining Ajay by the month-end. The Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada production also stars Vijay Raa, Seema Pahwa, and Shantanu Maheshwari in pivotal roles!
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