'Gangubai Kathiawadi' gets trapped in legal trouble! Mumbai Court summons Alia Bhatt, Bhansali

Mumbai, March 25: A Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate court has issued a summons by actor Alia Bhatt, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and two writers in connection with an alleged defamation case connected to the upcoming film Gangubai Kathiawadi. The court has been asked them to present themselves before the court on May 21.

 

Gangubai's adopted son Babu Ravji Shah has filed a case against the makers alleged that the film and its source material, author Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, are 'defamatory'. In the complaint, Shah had claimed that the biographical crime drama is factually incorrect and has shown his family in the wrong way. He has alleged that his mother is shown as a prostitute in the book as well as in the movie.

 

According to his complaint, Kathiawadi lived her life with dignity and respect. She was a social worker who fought for the rights of sex workers and to prevent human trafficking. Her work was admired by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah stated.

 

 

Hearing the case the court said, "Further it is shown that she was the brothel keeper and mafia queen. These things are tarnishing the image of his deceased mother as well as his family."

 

Speaking about how Gangubhai's character was portrayed in the book and the film, the Magistrate remarked, "Even if it is considered that, she was prostitute, that does not mean that anybody has permission or write to show or mention her as a prostitute in public."

 

 

The court further observed that "The novel was already published, however, the complainant has claimed that he had no knowledge of the book and came into light only on the social media, news, and transmission of the promo of 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.