Gangubai Kathiawadi, which is based on the eventful life of Madam of Kamathipura Gangubai Kothewali, is one of the most-awaited Hindi films of 2021. Starring Alia Bhatt in the titular role, the film has renowned director Sanjay Leela Bhansali calling the shots. The project marks the first collaboration between Bhatt and Bhansali and that makes it even more specials for cinephiles.
Gangubai Kathiawadi has suffered several setbacks ever since hitting the shooting floor, mostly because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Originally slated to release on September 11, 2021, the film still has several days of shoot pending. But as shooting activities have now been given the go-ahead in the state of Maharashtra with new unlock guidelines, we hear that Bhansali is set to resume production on the film from June 15.
However, the new guidelines prohibit filmmakers to shoot elaborate scenes involving large crowds, which means that Bhansali cannot film any song. He may instead focus on wrapping up scenes that require only a few artists in the frame. In addition to Gangubai Kathiawadi, several other films will also resume production from June 15.
Shooting activities have been allowed in Mumbai after the city and the state of Maharashtra witnessed a remarkable slump in the number of fresh coronavirus cases and an increase in vaccination.
Apart from Alia Bhatt, Gangubai Kathiawadi also stars Shantanu Maheshwari, Ajay Devgn, and Emraan Hashmi in brief but pivotal characters. Bhansali Productions and Pen India Limited are jointly bankrolling the high-profile venture.
After missing the September 2020 release, Gangubai Kathiawadi was set to hit the marquee on July 30, 2021. But since the film is yet not complete, the makers may announce a new release date soon.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
Raj almost wasn’t Indian, Tom Cruise was the idea.
The title? Kirron Kher just threw it out there.
Pigeon scene: Totally SRK winging it. Kajol freaked a little.
Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna got added last minute. Can you imagine?
Maratha Mandir. Playing. Every day. Since 1995. Fans love it.
You might think you’ve seen it all in DDLJ. Raj, Simran, the songs, yes, we all know them. But there’s a lot behind the camera that most people have no clue about. Some of it was luck. Some of it Shah Rukh Khan just winging it. And some… well, Aditya Chopra being a little crazy. Here’s the stuff nobody really tells you.
How Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a Bollywood legend: 10 untold stories Youtube Screengrab
1. Raj almost had a totally different face
Aditya Chopra literally imagined an American guy and an Indian girl and had Tom Cruise in mind. But then his dad, Yash Chopra, stepped in and said, “Nope, Indian boy.” And then the story completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t Hollywood, but NRIs, family, love, and all the cultural stuff that actually hits you in the gut.
2. Kirron Kher named the film
That long, unforgettable title? Shah Rukh Khan thought it was clunky. But the rookie director, Aditya, heard it from Kirron Kher and went with his gut. And yes, she got a credit in the opening titles.
3. Script written in a month
Three years of thinking, then all of a sudden, the final script was done in three or four weeks. Can you imagine? The blueprint for the biggest romantic film of the ’90s, completed in less than a month.
4. Accidental magic
That pigeon-feeding scene with Amrish Puri? Totally improvised by Shah Rukh. Even Kajol’s shocked face in Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane was not planned. Aditya kept it a secret to get a real reaction. And it worked big time. Fans don’t even know half the story behind that moment.
5. Director hiding in a car
During the Zurich car ride, Aditya wasn’t just lurking behind the camera. No. He was lying flat in the back of the red convertible, flat out of frame, watching every move. Can you imagine lying like that for hours? Wild.
6. Raj’s leather jacket wasn’t a costume
Raj’s iconic leather jacket? The one every guy copied? Uday Chopra just bought it from a Harley shop in California and cost 400 bucks. Not a big fancy wardrobe magic, it was just a cool jacket he found.
7. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhnaalmost didn’t happen
That wedding song everyone hums? Almost didn’t exist. It got added at the very last second, borrowed from another Yash Raj project. Imagine weddings without it!
8. Kajol’s towel moment
Kajol wasn’t a fan of that towel scene. She seriously didn’t want to shoot it, but the director insisted. And that white skirt in the song? The director said it looked frumpy. Manish Malhotra, the designer, had to take scissors and cut it shorter on the spot.
9. Shah Rukh’s prophecy
After reading the script, Shah Rukh told Yash Chopra: “This will define my stardom.” And he nailed it. Spot on.
10. The first “making of” documentary
Before YouTube, before making-of reels, they aired a half-hour documentary on Doordarshan.
Chaudhary Baldev Singh Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan Kajol www.easterneye.biz
24*7- for 365 days
And then there's Maratha Mandir. This old theater in Mumbai. It's still showing the film. Every. Single. Day. For 30 years. Tickets are 50 rupees. Fans go to watch it like a ritual, some book the gallery for birthdays or anniversaries. People even fly in from abroad. Iconic, right?
30 years later, Raj and Simran are on stage in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical in Manchester. 18 original English songs. Same story. Same magic. New audience. And people are loving it.
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