Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Leela Bhansali Summoned By Mumbai Court In ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ Case
Mumbai: A metropolitan magistrate court at Mumbai’s Mazgaon has summoned actress Alia Bhatt and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali in connection with the ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ defamation case.
Summons have been issued to S Hussain Zaidi, Jane Borges, Bhansali Productions Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Alia Bhatt and have been asked to appear in court on 21 May.
Babuji Raoji Shah (74), a man claiming to be the son of Gangubai Kathiawadi, had filed a suit in the court against the movie in December.
Based on the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ written by S. Hussain Zaidi, the film depicts the rise of a girl named Gangubai Kothewali and a brothel owner and matriarch from Kathiawad who had no choice but to embrace the ways of destiny and swing it in her favour.
The complainant has alleged that her mother has been shown as a prostitute in the book as well as in the film.
“It is further shown that she was a brothel keeper and mafia queen. These things are tarnishing the image of his deceased mother and her family,” read the court order.
“The novel was already published, however, the complainant claimed that he had no knowledge of the book and that it only came to light on social media, news and broadcasts of the promos for the upcoming film. In the novel as well as the promo they have not only used the name of his mother but also used her surname along with the residential area i.e. Kamathipura, where his deceased mother was identified and had a reputation in the society, before her death,” it said.
Shah claimed that his mother had always worked for the rights of sex workers and the prevention of human trafficking. After the release of the promo of the film, the alleged people complaining in the vicinity are now asking the rate of their daughter and daughter-in-law and demanding sexual pleasure from them.
The complainant has stated that prior to the publication of the novel, his consent was not obtained by all the accused (persons who have been summoned) and thereafter without his consent and knowledge of the promo has been released.
“To portray the image of the deceased Gangubai without the consent of the family members to discredit her image … Prima facie, showing that the complainant and her family members are suffering from mental anguish due to the novel and promo,” read the court order.
The complainant has lodged a complaint at Nagpada Police Station. The makers have announced the release date of the film on 30 July this year. This is Bhansali’s first collaboration with Alia in the film. The project will also see Bhansali Productions collaborating with Jayantilal Gada’s Pen India Limited.
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(With Agency Inputs)
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