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EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai with Alia Bhatt post release digital rights sold
Sanjay Leela Bhansali strikes a deal with an OTT giant for the post release streaming of his Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai. The movie is gearing up for a release in second half of 2021.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali resumed shooting for his much-awaited period drama, Gangubai, which features Alia Bhatt in the titular role of brothel chief from Mumbai. The film went on floors in November last year, however, the shoot was halted in March owing to the coronavirus infused lockdown. The film is now nearing completion with just 20 to 25 days of work remaining and the team intends to complete it by March. As per reports, Alia is training at present for two songs that are slated to be shot later this month.
Pinkvilla has learnt that even before completing the film’s shoot, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has striked a mega deal with a streaming giant. “The post release streaming rights of Gangubai have been sold to an OTT giant for a hefty sum in the vicinity of Rs 70 crore. The paperwork is currently underway. The star-cast, grandeur and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s goodwill have led the team of Gangubai towards striking this massive deal. His films have a loyal audience outside India too, and the streaming platform too has a base to cater to them,” revealed a source close to the development, adding further that Gangubai is a story meant to be consumed on the big screen and despite multiple offers extending to Rs 100 crore plus, Bhansali and his team were firm on bringing it to the cinema halls. The film is now gearing up for a release post August.
Interestingly, Bhansali is also making his digital debut with a show titled Heera Mandi. The filmmaker will be directing the first and last two episodes of the series, with the rest of them being helmed by Vibhu Puri. It features Sonakshi Sinha, Huma Qureshi, Nimrat Kaur, Sayani Gupta and Manisha Koirala in key roles. Talking about his directorial, Gangubai, the film also features, Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi in important extended cameos, with Huma in a special dance number.
It is the first collaboration of SLB with Alia Bhatt, and there is a strong buzz in the trade that the director actor duo is collaborating again on Baiju Bawra next. The film is expected to be Bhansali’s next directorial for the theatres after Gangubai. We reached out to SLB’s team, who remained unavailable for comment.
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