Seema Pahwa commends Alia Bhatt's strong work ethic in Gangubai Kathiawadi, describing her as "exceptionally diligent"

By M Muzamil Shami

Seema Pahwa, who teamed up with Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi, praises the actress for her exceptional dedication, sincerity, and respectfulness. She also recounts her encounter while working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

       Picture Courtesy - Seema Pahwa's Instagram

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is preparing to reveal the initial glimpse of Heeramandi this Thursday. Ahead of the eagerly awaited unveiling, Seema Pahwa, who previously worked with him on Gangubai Kathiawadi, revealed that, contrary to popular belief, she never observed him raising his voice at anyone on set. Furthermore, she commended Alia Bhatt, the film's leading actress.

Seema Pahwa expresses admiration for Alia Bhatt

During an interview with Rajshri Unplugged, Seema Pahwa conveyed her admiration for Alia Bhatt, who secured a National Film Award for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Initially cautious about collaborating with a young and accomplished actress, Seema was pleasantly taken aback by Alia's warm and humble demeanor.

“Alia turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me. I initially thought she was a new and highly successful girl. You never know how arrogant someone might be or how they approach their work. However, she proved to be extremely hardworking, sincerely dedicated, and respectful towards her seniors and elder actors. She handles it all very well, and I felt very comfortable working with her,” she remarked.

Pahwa, who played the role of Sheela mausi, the brothel owner in the movie, discussed her initial reservations about joining the project. She voiced two main concerns during the filming phase. Firstly, having never worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali before, she was unsure about his working style and how he creates a comfortable environment for actors. Secondly, she questioned whether the audience would embrace her in a negative character, considering her history of comedic roles.

She expresses her pleasant surprise at being approached by Bhansali for the role, noting the director's hands-off approach that granted her considerable freedom to explore her character without interference.

Commenting on Bhansali's reputed temperamental nature on set, the Bala actress acknowledged hearing stories of him yelling at the crew but stated that she personally never witnessed such instances. Emphasizing Bhansali's perfectionist mindset and dedication to achieving excellence in his work, she noted that those who share this approach may get upset if the desired level of perfection is not attained. Despite tales of on-set frustrations, she considers herself fortunate for not experiencing or witnessing any such incidents during her time working with him.

Regarding Gangubai Kathiwadi

"Gangubai Kathiawadi, a 2022 drama directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-produced by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada, stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role, supported by Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh, and Ajay Devgn.

The storyline revolves around Gangubai Kothewali, whose life is chronicled in S. Hussain Zaidi's book, "Mafia Queens of Mumbai." The film portrays the journey of a humble girl from Kathiawad who, confronting destiny, embraces her circumstances and deftly manipulates them to her advantage. Premiering at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2022, the film later hit theaters on February 25, 2022."