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All you need to know about Gangubai Kathiawadi, the real Mafia Queen who inspired the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-Alia Bhatt film
Gangubai Kathiawadi is finally hitting the big screens on Friday.
Who was Gangubai Kathiawadi, the titular role which Alia Bhatt plays?
Gangubai Kathiawadi was a powerful, divisive woman who earned the title "Madam of Kamathipura" in the 1960s.
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On which book is the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial based?
Parts of her biography are told in a chapter in best-selling novelist and former investigative journalist S. Hussain Zaidi's book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, which is dedicated to her.
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How did Gangubai Kathiawadi end up in Kamathipura?
Her family is unknown, but she is believed to come from the Kathiawad region of Gujarat. She moved away from home at a young age and moved to Mumbai with her boyfriend, who duped her and sold her into prostitution in the Kamathipura red light area.
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Why was Gangubai Kathiawadi famous?
After a rocky start, Gangubai came to power through her contacts with the Mumbai mafia. She owned and operated a number of brothels in the city's red light district, gaining the title of "Madam of Kamathipura." She arrived in a black Bentley, the only one owned by a brothel owner at the time.
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Did Gangubai Kathiawadi stand-up for elections?
As a result of her personal experiences, Gangubai was recognized as having empathy for other women in the community. She utilised her influence to advocate for sex workers' rights and empowerment, and she believed that no one could abuse her because of her employment. She reportedly met with then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to discuss sex workers' difficulties. Her statues and framed images could be found in many houses in the neighbourhood, and a bust was even created in her honour. She's also depicted in the trailer as a tough politician, and the plot is expected to include her participating in an election.
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What's the plot of the Gangubai Kathiawadi film?
Ganga Harjivandas, who was born into a wealthy family in Kathiawad, aspired to be an actress. She fell in love with Ramnik Lal, her father's accountant, when she was only 16 years old. They were married in Mumbai on the spur of the moment. But her life was turned upside down when he sold her for Rs 500 to a brothel in Kamathipura, where she was forced to begin prostitution. Later, she rose to prominence as Gangubai Kathiawadi, a powerful brothel madame who won elections in the area where she lived (Kamathipura). After beating a member of his gang who raped her, Don Rahim Lala became her sworn brother. She used to be an outspoken supporter of women's rights and equal pay for sex workers.
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Who plays what in the film Gangubai Kathiawadi?
Alia Bhatt plays the titular role of Gangubai Kathiawadi, who is the madame of a brothel in the Kamathipura area of Mumbai. Ajay Devgn plays Rahim Lala, who is a don and Gangubai's sworn brother. The film also features Shantanu Maheshwari as Afsaan, Gangubai's lover, and Vijay Raaz as Raziabai, a nemesis of Gangubai. Seema Pahwa and Jim Sarbh are also part of Gangubai Kathiawadi in undisclosed roles.