Alia Bhatt Cried And Locked Herself In Room After Inshallah Shelved; Sanjay Leela Bhansali Then Offered Her Gangubai Kathiawadi

Alia Bhatt was apparently upset after Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah got shelved. The Gangubai Kathiawadi director claimed that the actress broke down after hearing the news and also locked herself in a room. When the filmmaker approached her for the role of Gangubai she was not confident enough that she would be able to pull off the character. But after Bhansali encouraged her, Alia agreed to do Gangubai Kathiawadi. Released in 2022, the movie not only broke box office records but Alia was also appreciated for her role. 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali said “I was doing Inshallah with her. Then it suddenly got shelved. She broke down, cracked up, cried, raved, ranted, and locked herself in a room. Then I called her up after one week, and I said you are playing Gangubai. She said, 'From Los Angeles, where I was supposed to be playing the character (in Inshallah), I have come to Kamathipura. How do I do it? I don't know this character'. I said, 'Do you trust me, and do you know me?' Then I'll tap into that strong woman in you because I can see it in your eyes. I can see how strong how convinced you are of certain things that you do, I've understood your personality'.”