Before Alia Bhatt, here's who was offered the lead in Gangubai Kathiawadi, and it's not Deepika Padukone

Alia Bhatt is currently ruling the box office with her mind blowing performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial garnered a lot of love and appreciation from fans, especially for Alia’s performance in the film. However, not a lot of people know that Sanjay Leela Bhansali reportedly sought several B-Town divas before ultimately finding his Gangubai in Alia.

Deepika Padukone was reportedly given Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, according to reports on several websites. This isn't simply incorrect. However, it is unfair to Alia Bhatt, who played the character and is recognised as an all-time great for her portrayal. The truth regarding Gangubai Kathiawadi's casting is that Priyanka Chopra was the only actress who was given the part before Alia, but her schedules overseas prevented her from giving Sanjay Leela Bhansali the dates he desired.

Bhansali needed a break from Deepika (and Ranveer Singh) after three consecutive costume dramas with them, Ram Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015), and Padmaavat (2018). In fact, Alia and Sanjay Bhansali's team did not discuss compensation for Gangubai Kathiawadi.

When the director realised it wasn't working, he immediately thought of Alia. “I don’t know why or how it happened. But I saw my Gangubai in Alia. No one else did. Everyone discouraged me. My entire thought I had gone mad. But Alia it was as Gangubai,” says the filmmaker.

There were also speculations that when Sanjay Leela Bhansali was casting Gangubai Kathiawadi, he had Rani Mukerji in mind. In 2005, Rani and SLB teamed on Black. However, things did not work out, and Priyanka was asked to star in the film.