Hollywood star Joseph Gordon Levitt has praised Alia Bhatt’s film Gangubai Kathiawadi. At a recent event in Mumbai on Saturday morning, Gordon talked a lot about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film and how it inspired him to move further in the Hindi film industry.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s high praise for Gangubai Kathiawadi
Gordon-Levitt is in India to participate in IFP (formerly India Film Project) Season 14. During a session conducted by Bollywood actor Rajkumar Rao, Joseph took the name of Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai (with some help from Rajkumar). “Yes, it was really different from anything I had seen, because it was a very heavy, specific drama that felt like a Scorsese film at times. But still these are gorgeous musical numbers that feel very honest and well-done. And I found myself completely mesmerized by this film. It inspired me to learn more about Indian cinema, and it’s honestly part of why I wanted to come here, because I love what I get from the culture here. There is a huge love for films and artistry here and I want to come here and make a film.
In Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia played the character of a Gujarati woman who was forced into sex work by her lover. Gradually, over the years, she became a powerful matriarch of Bombay’s Kamathipura red light area. Alia played the role of Gangubai in different stages of her life. Her performance in the film also won her various awards, including the National Award for Best Actress.
About Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his visit to India
Gordon-Levitt is popular for films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, 500 Days of Summer, and Inception. The Emmy award-winning actor, who is also known for the online media platform hit Record, had earlier said that he was looking forward to visiting India.
“It feels surreal to visit India for the first time. I have been a long-time fan of Indian music and culture and have been connecting with Indian creators through our community, Hit Records.
“It is truly an honor to be invited to speak at the 14th season of IFP. The rise of independent cinema, storytelling and art in India fascinates me. There’s something interesting about how its rich history intersects with the world of film and music. I am excited to experience this vibrant creativity at IFP firsthand,” Gordon-Levitt said in a statement.
For IFP Season 14, the actor joins a line-up including Indian cinema celebrities Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Kabir Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Aditi Rao Hydari, Saurabh Shukla, Shoojit Sircar, Guneet Monga, Ram Madhvani, Kunal Have joined. Kemmu, and Sharvari.
