In a latest development, Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have been summoned by the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai regarding a criminal defamation case. The case has been filed by Babu Rawji Shah, who claims to be the adopted son of Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Shah in his plea states that the chapter on Gangubai Kathiawadi in Hussain Zaidi’s book, ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’, is defamatory, tarnishes her reputation and violates his right to privacy and self-respect.
Here’s what news agency ANI tweeted regarding the same👇
Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is based on Zaidi’s book, focusing on the life of Gangubai and features Alia in the titular role. The case has thus been filed against the filmmaker, the actress and Ziadi. Reportedly, the trio will have to appear in the Mumbai court on May 21. As for now there is no official response from any of them regarding this.
This isn’t the first time that ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ has landed in legal trouble. Earlier, Shah had filed a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction restraining order against the makers of Gangubai Kathiawadi and author Hussain Zaidi. The plea was then dismissed by the Bombay Civil Court as Shah could not provide proper evidence of being the adopted son of Gangubai Kathiawadi.
‘Gangubai Kathiawadi‘, a biographical crime-drama, has been produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in association with Jayantilal Gada and other than Alia Bhatt, stars Shanatnu Maheshwari and Vijay Raaz among others. The film also has special appearances from Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi and Huma Qureshi. ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is set to release in theatres on 30th July, 2021.