Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the most renowned filmmakers in India – and rightfully so. The director has given us masterpieces such as Ram Leela, Bajirao Mastani, Devdas and Padmaavat. Every SLB film has a specific colour palette that speaks volumes about the story, it has great music and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know that the director is famous for his opulent sets.
Bhansali’s last film, Padmaavat was a blockbuster hit despite being mired in severe controversies. It was banned in multiple states and there was even a bounty on actress Deepika Padukone’s head.
Now, the director is apparently working on a host of projects and appears to have found his latest muse in Alia Bhatt. Bhatt will star in Gangubai Kathiawadi which will focus on the life of Mumbai’s most notorious madam, Gangubai Kothewali. Gangubai, the most feared madam of Kamathipura was the only madam in the ’60s to own a Bentley and if media reports are to be believed, she also secured an appointment with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to speak about the plight of sex workers.
Next, Bhansali is reportedly also working on a web-series which will feature actress Richa Chadha in the lead. Like most Bhansali films, this will also be a period drama.
Perhaps, the most exciting Bhansali project in the pipeline is Heera Mandi. Why you ask? According to multiple media reports, the ace director is apparently personally seeing the casting for the film and is said to be in talks with icons of Hindi Cinema like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Manisha Koirala. The film will also reportedly feature Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan, Parineeti Chopra and Alia Bhatt.
Heera Mandi will be Bhansali’s first collaboration with Netflix and is said to go on floors in the first quarter of 2021.
[Image Credit: Sanjay Leela Bhansali]
ML Entertainment