Sanjay Leela Bhansali on 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' from not making Salman Khan's 'Inshallah'
Mar 25,2022
Producer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's recently released film Gangubai Kathiawadi, who has made grand and big films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ramleela, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmavat, is being liked by the audience and dragging them to the theatres. has been.
The film has earned more than 60 crores and continues to dominate the box office. Satisfied with the success of Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has come to the BBC and discussed his films.
Gangubai Kathiawadi is the result of anger
The story of Gangubai Kathiawadi was in the mind of Sanjay Leela Bhansali from the time of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. But he was not ready for the film as a director but he was living with the story.
Meanwhile, he made many films like Black, Guzaarish, Saawariya... but they did not work.
In such a situation, Sanjay Leela Bhansali turned to historical films and made Bajirao Mastani and Padmavat, which got a lot of love from the audience.
After Padmavat, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was ready to make Inshallah with Salman Khan. The grand set of the film was also made, but before the shooting, suddenly there were reports of a rift between Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salman Khan, and the film was not made. Sanjay Leela Bhansali told that when Inshallah was not made, he got very angry.
He started wondering why this happened. After making a grand set after Padmavat, it had to be closed. He was angry for about a week. Then Sanjay Leela Bhansali went on to script Gangubai Kathiawadi.
He had already met Alia Bhatt during Inshallah. Later Sanjay Leela Bhansali offered Alia a Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Alia Bhatt was hesitant in the beginning but she agreed later. The shooting of Gangubai started a month and a half after Inshallah closed. Gorgeous sets, gorgeous costumes made. Sanjay Leela Bhansali believes that he has made the best use of his anger.
Why not Inshallah?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali did two films in his early days with superstar Salman Khan – Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
After that, there were distances in the relationship between Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. After nearly two decades, the director-actor duo was about to come back from Inshallah, but the film was closed before the shooting started.
When Sanjay Leela Bhansali was asked the reason for this, he says, "If the matter did not work, then what to talk about it?"
He further says, "When it doesn't have to be made, it doesn't happen. Bajirao-Mastani was not made when Salman was there, Aishwarya was there, Kareena was there. If the fate of the film is not there then it is not made at that time. It was Gangubai's spirit that said, 'Make it. I did not understand how I went ahead after closing the film. Mehboob had set up in the studio, Alia had rehearsed the dance on the song, the lighting was done, then my mouth was done Turned out not to stop doing this.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali believes that whatever is written in destiny happens. Like Ranveer and Deepika were destined for Bajirao Mastani, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were in school when this film was announced by Bhansali.
Gangubai, Ramnik, and nude scene in the film
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who took the audience to a different world through his films, has taken the story of Gangubai Kathiawadi from the book "Mafia Queen" by writer Hussain Zaidi. She has made major changes in the story of Gangubai and her cheating husband Ramnik from the book.
Commenting on this change, Sanjay Leela Bhansali says, "I didn't want to waste time about Ramnik and Gangubai. I didn't want to show their name's marriage, close relationship, rape scene. By showing all this I didn't want to make the audience uncomfortable. I didn't want to disturb Gangubai's soul again and I didn't want to show this nudity. So, Ramnik was presented as a deceitful lover."
According to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ramnik is the most disgusting character of the film which humanity should not see because there is no place on earth for such people who ruin innocent lives.
Bhansali has not achieved this position yet.
Music plays a huge role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films. He composes the music of his films. In today's changing times where the importance of songs in films is decreasing, Sanjay Leela Bhansali says that it is difficult not to have songs in his films.
Bhansali says that today's generation is heavily influenced by Iranian films, Korean films, and western films, where songs do not have a place in films, but this is what sets Bollywood films apart from them.
He further says, "Hindustan has a song for everything. Songs and music are the heritage of our Indian cinema. Big directors Raj Kapoor Sahab, Mehboob Khan Sahab, Naushad Sahab, and Shankar Jaikishan are not worth their work, Shall we erase them? There will be songs in my films. I love songs."
Sharing his musical inclination, Sanjay Leela Bhansali says, "I start the film with a song. The song 'Jhoome Re Gori' came to my mind while writing Gangubai. How did the film start from there? Do! I want to shoot songs like Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, K. Asif, Guru Dutt. I have shot very good songs but I want to achieve the status that these directors have achieved."
He goes on to say, "I am looking for a job like 'Meri Jaan' was shot in a car, Guru Dutt sahib used to shoot the entire song on a bed like Vijay Anand Sahab used to shoot 'Dil Ka Bhanwar' in a ladder. would shoot. They were genius people. Until I shoot a song like 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya' from Mughal-e-Azam, I will continue to shoot songs."
salute to women
The characters of women in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films are very strong.
"Women represent God because they give life," says Bhansali.
Women have big characters in the stories of every big director. As people like Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor, Ritwik Ghatak have influenced him, he wants to greet women through his medium.
Top Stories
Salman Khan Recalls Jail Days on Bigg Boss: '70 People Shared One Bathroom,' Emotional Story Goes Viral
Aug 03,2026
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan made a special appearance on the reality show 'Alliance', currently streaming on Prime Video, to support his brother Sohail Khan. During an interaction with contestants, Salman reflected on his past jail experiences, sharing details about the harsh
Bhumi Pednekar: Trolled over her reaction in support of PM Modi; users said, "You should stop thinking..."
Aug 03,2026
Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has found herself at the center of a social media controversy after sharing a video criticizing the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent protest. While some users supported her appeal for respectful public discourse,
Kangana Ranaut Shares Childhood Photo as Sita Amid CJP Row, Says 'Blessings to Liberals'
Jul 31,2026
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has once again grabbed headlines after sharing childhood photographs of herself dressed as Goddess Sita on social media. The post comes amid her ongoing verbal exchanges surrounding the CJP controversy, with Kangana writing a brief but pointed caption: "My
'Jan Nayagan' Movie Review: Vijay's Final Film Is Overshadowed by Politics, 3-Hour Runtime Tests Patience
Jul 23,2026
Vijay's much-awaited farewell film, Jan Nayagan, arrives with massive expectations, marking the superstar's final appearance on the big screen before his full-time political journey. While fans hoped for an unforgettable send-off, director H. Vinoth delivers a film where political messag
Jantar Mantar Protest: From R. Madhavan to Alia Bhatt, Celebrities Rally Behind Students; Here's What They Said
Jul 23,2026
The nationwide outrage over the alleged NEET paper leak has intensified, with thousands of students staging protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and demonstrations spreading across Mumbai and several other cities. Protesters are demanding a transparent investigation into the examination cont
Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' Creates Box Office Storm: Two Major Tamil Films Postponed as Fans Celebrate Thalapathy's Final Movie
Jul 16,2026
The excitement surrounding Thalapathy Vijay's highly anticipated film 'Jana Nayagan' has reached unprecedented levels ahead of its July 23, 2026 release. Widely believed to be Vijay's final film before entering full-time politics, the movie has prompted two Tamil filmmakers to postpone
Salman Khan’s New House Approved: Is He Finally Leaving Galaxy Apartments After 52 Years?
Jun 30,2026
Rumours about Salman Khan leaving his iconic Galaxy Apartments residence have been making headlines after reports claimed the Bollywood superstar was preparing to move into a new luxury home in Bandra. However, the reality is quite different. While the Khan family's sea-facing Bandra prop
Security Breach Involving Arbaaz Khan: Intruder Jumps Into Actor’s Car, Removed by Bouncer
Jun 17,2026
Actor Arbaaz Khan recently found himself at the center of a security scare during a public event in Kolkata. A video from the incident has gone viral on social media, showing an unidentified man allegedly forcing his way into the actor's car as he was leaving the venue.The unexpected inci
Entertainment News
Salman Khan’s New House Appr
Jun 30,2026
Security Breach Involving Arba
Jun 17,2026
‘Happy Birthday to the Queen
Jun 17,2026
Kangana Ranaut Breaks Silence
Jun 12,2026
Anupam Kher Scolds David Dhawa
Jun 04,2026