Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an Indian filmmaker and music composer, who works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of several awards, including seven National Film Awards and 12 Filmfare Awards, in addition to a nomination for a BAFTA Award. In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award. Bhansali is best known for his use of aesthetics, musical vision and Period dramas.
Ayan Mukerji is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi films. A member of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, he is known for his collaborations with actor Ranbir Kapoor under Karan Johar's production banner Dharma Productions.
Alia Bhatt is a British actress of Indian descent who predominantly works in Hindi films. Known for her portrayals of women in challenging circumstances, she has received several accolades, including a National Film Award and six Filmfare Awards. She is one of India's highest-paid actresses. Time awarded her with the Time100 Impact Award in 2022 and named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024.
Shantanu Maheshwari is an Indian actor, dancer, and choreographer, known for his versatility and vibrant performances. He gained fame for his debut role as Swayam Shekhawat in the popular youth television show Dil Dosti Dance. Shantanu's impressive dance skills earned him widespread recognition, leading to his victory in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8. He has also represented India internationally as part of the Desi Hoppers dance crew, winning the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles. Additionally, he made his Bollywood debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).
Gangubai Kathiawadi is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language biographical crime drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and produced by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada. The film stars Alia Bhatt in the title role, alongside Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh and Ajay Devgn.
Gangubai Harjeevandas, better known as Gangubai Kothewali or Gangubai Kathiawadi, was an Indian social activist, sex worker and madam of a brothel in the Kamathipura area of Mumbai during the 1960s. Gangubai worked for the rights of sex workers and for the well-being of orphans. She gradually ended up operating her own brothel and is known to also have lobbied for the rights of commercial sex workers.
Meezaan Jafri is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. The son of actor Jaaved Jaaferi and grandson of comedian Jagdeep, he made his acting debut in Malaal (2019), which earned him critical praise for his performance. Jafri has since starred in Hungama 2 (2021) and Yaariyan 2 (2023).
Alia Bhatt is a British actress of Indian descent who predominantly works in Hindi films. As a child, she played a minor role in her father Mahesh Bhatt's production Sangharsh (1999), as the younger version of star Preity Zinta's character. In 2012, Bhatt had her first lead role in Karan Johar's teen film Student of the Year, but her performance in it was not well received. Two years later, she gained praise for playing a kidnapping victim in the drama Highway (2014), winning the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. In the same year, her starring roles in the commercially successful romances 2 States and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, both produced under Johar's studio Dharma Productions, established her as a leading actress. She also sang the single "Samjhawan Unplugged" for the latter film's soundtrack.
The 68th Filmfare Awards is a ceremony, presented by The Times Group, honored the best Indian Hindi-language films of 2022.
Kruti Mahesh Midya is an Indian dancer and choreographer known for her work in Hindi Cinema. She is a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the song "Ghoomar" from Padmaavat (2018), together with Jyoti D.Tommar, and has received the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for "Dholida" from Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). Her best works are in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), ABCD 2 (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015), A Flying Jatt (2016), Race 3 (2018), Street Dancer 3D (2019), Shyam Singha Roy (2021), and Maja Ma (2022). Terence Lewis has been her mentor since joining his team in Dance India Dance and has assisted Remo D'Souza along the way before becoming an independent choreographer.
Gangubai Kathiawadi is the soundtrack album to the 2022 film of the same name directed and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali loosely based on the life of Indian sex worker and social activist Gangubai Kothewali which was documented in the novel Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S. Hussain Zaidi, the film stars Alia Bhatt in the titular role. Besides directing, Bhansali also composed the film's soundtrack while the score was composed by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara. The lyrics for the songs were written by Kumaar, A. M. Turaz and Bhojak Ashok "Anjam". The album was released under the Saregama record label on 18 February 2022 with a simultaneous Telugu version which had lyrics written by Chaitanya Prasad.
