Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given us films like Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani and Black and had previously announced that he is making a film called Gangubai Kathiawadi. The film tells the story of Gangubai who was one of the most feared and renowned madams of a brothel in Kamathipura. However, like previous Sanjay Leela Bhansali films, this one too seems to have fallen into controversy before its release. According to media reports, Gangubai’s son, Babuji Rawji Shah has registered a case against the filmmaker and actress Alia Bhatt who plays the lead role and Bhansali Productions.

That’s not all – Shah has also filed a case against writer Hussain Zaidi, on whose novel The Mafia Queens of Mumbai the film is based and on Jane Borges, a reporter whose research forms a large part of the foundation for the acclaimed book.

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Gangubai Kathiawadi was scheduled to be released in theatres on September 2020 but was pushed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, it was reported that India’s favourite desi girl, Priyanka Chopra was set to star as the titular character in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film but she was replaced by Bhatt in 2019. Shooting for the film wrapped up in the last week of November this year and this film is perhaps the only one that will make people flock to theatres.

Now, according to Pinkvilla, Netflix has managed to bag the digital rights of Gangubai Kathiawadi. The streaming giant has reportedly paid a whopping Rs 70 crore for the film.

“The post-release streaming rights of Gangubai have been sold to an OTT giant for a hefty sum in the vicinity of Rs 70 crore. The paperwork is currently underway. The star-cast, grandeur and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s goodwill have led the team of Gangubai towards striking this massive deal. His films have a loyal audience outside India too, and the streaming platform too has a base to cater to them,” the source told Pinkvilla.

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