Aditya Narayan reveals Sanjay Leela Bhansali initially considered Rani Mukerji for Gangubai Kathiawadi, not Alia Bhatt

Rani Mukerji was the first choice for Gangubai Kathiawadi

We all know Gangubai Kathiawadi as Alia Bhatt’s standout film — and her powerful performance even won her a National Award.

But did you know the film almost starred someone else? Singer and TV host Aditya Narayan recently revealed that the legendary director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had initially thought of casting Rani Mukerji for the role.

Aditya shared the story during a fun chat with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa on YouTube. He opened up about some rough patches in his career, especially after his film Shaapit didn’t do well.

He admitted it was a tough time, saying he was out of work for nearly a year and even struggled to find people willing to work with him.

Things started looking up when he got the chance to host X Factor — where Bhansali was a judge. A suggestion from singer Sonu Nigam led Aditya to ask Bhansali if he could assist him and learn filmmaking.

At first, the director wasn’t convinced and didn’t give him much work, thinking he’d quit quickly. But after a week, Bhansali started trusting him more and began involving him in projects.

Aditya recalled, “At that time, he had two scripts with him: Ram-Leela and Gangubai Kathiawadi. I think he was considering making Gangubai Kathiawadi with Rani Mukerji in the lead. He asked all of us which script we preferred, and I liked Ram-Leela more.”

Also Read: Ahaan Panday spotted at Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s office; Is a new project brewing after Saiyaara’s blockbuster success?

Eventually, the film was made with Alia Bhatt, who brought the story to life brilliantly. Gangubai Kathiawadi is based on a real story from Hussain Zaidi’s Mafia Queens of Mumbai and tells the inspiring tale of a woman’s rise from adversity to becoming a powerful figure in Mumbai’s red-light district. The film was a major success, earning over ₹211 crore worldwide.

Right now, Aditya is seen on Ashneer Grover’s reality show Rise & Fall, while Bhansali is busy with his next big project, Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal — expected to release in 2026.