Deepika Padukone hugs Alia Bhatt after the screening of Gangubai Kathiawadi at YRF

After a private screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) at Yash Raj Studios, Deepika Padukone proved to be quite the sport. With a tight hug, she rushed to Gangubai Alia, putting all the bad memories behind her.

For those who came late, Deepika was confident that after three consecutive successes with Bhansali—Ram Leela (2012), Bajirao Mastani (2015), and Padmaavat (2018), Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi was hers. Deepika was taken aback when the ace director chose Alia for his next.

All of Deepika's bitterness washed away on Wednesday when she saw the magic that Bhansali and Alia created in Gangubai Kathiawadi. After the screening, Deepika was seen hugging Alia tightly. The two then went to Bhansali's house to celebrate the hard work.

Gangubai Kathiawadi, which had been postponed several times due to the pandemic, had previously received great reviews at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, and Indira Tiwari also play pivotal parts in the film. The new period drama, based on a story from Hussain Zaidi's book The Mafia Queens of Mumbai (2011), features Gangubai, who was forced into prostitution at a young age. She rises through the ranks to become a ruthless brothel madam and a political figure. She also fought for sex workers and their children's rights.