Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Gangubai Kathiawadi featuring Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn is all set for release on February 25th.
Alia Bhatt during exclusive interview with greatandhra.com revealed her experiences of working with the film and with one of her favourite directors.
“When we have wrapped the shoot, we cut a cake and I remember giving a speech. I said that, the creative journey and experience of this film has been so satisfying that. I always wanted to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and I wanted to be his heroine.
I found a script where I was in and as, I’m playing the title part with Sanjay sir which that combination I would have ever imagined would have happened. I feel very grateful and very blessed.”
Alia says she didn’t go to red-light area or meet sex workers, as part of research for her character. “It was really strange, but for the first time I set foot into the lanes of Kamatipura was on our set, because the lanes were created and we shot there for 2 years.
I don’t think sir wanted me to have any preconceive ideas before coming on sets. The fact that I was literally a clean slate and I had no information or no exposure was, I guess, the best jump-off point, because then from there, you can only create and don’t have to unlearn anything. I learnt purely through his conversation. He gave few videos for me to watch.”
About her take on prostitutes, Alia affirms, “My take on prostitutes is pretty much what Gangubai feels, because I kind of lived that character, I lived her essence, purpose and lived her fight, so I resonate with that.”
Alia worked with star directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Rajamouli who both of them believe in visual grandeur and great sense of aesthetics.
“I wouldn’t compare the two, because they are two very different filmmakers. I don’t think like no person walks the same way and no director can direct the same way.”
Alia reveals that she would love to do an action film with Samantha. “Sam was so fabulous in The Family Man and I’ve seen all of her other works as well. What she did in the show was phenomenal.”
About three things that she has learnt from SLB, she says, “Magic, magic and magic.”
