Gangubai Kathiawadi: Deepika Padukone and other stars who turned down Alia Bhatt’s role in the film

Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, hit theatres around the country on February 25. The film has received positive reviews and has also crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark. 

Among the many positives of the film, Bhatt’s performance as Ganga, a girl from Kathiawar in Gujarat who is promised a life in the cinema by her boyfriend but is later forced into prostitution in Mumbai, has garnered a lot of praise. 

While Bhatt turned the role of Gangubai into one of her career's best, there are a few other actors who turned down the role, according to a report by India Today. 

According to the report, Deepika Padukone was approached by the filmmaker to essay the role of Gangubai. Rumours suggested her casting back in 2019, when she was spotted in the filmmaker’s office. Padukone has previously worked with Bhansali in Goliyon Ki Raasleela, Ram-Leela, Padmaavat, and Bajirao Mastani.

Rani Mukerji, who is currently working on Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, is another name who was reportedly approached for the role. The actor had previously worked with Bhansali in the highly successful drama Black. 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is another name mentioned in the report, who could have played Gangubai in Bhansali’s crime drama. While reports suggest she was approached for the role, the actor clarifies that she did not know about this and was busy with work overseas. 

The crime drama is based on Hussain Zaidi's book, "Mafia Queens of Mumbai." The film is backed by Jayantilal Gada and Bhansali under the banner of Pen India Limited and Bhansali Productions and also features Ajay Devgn, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, Jim Sarbh, and Seema Pahwa.