National Award-winning actress Kriti Sanon has praised filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his critically acclaimed film Gangubai Kathiawadi, highlighting the importance of investing in female-led projects with the same scale and grandeur usually reserved for male-centric stories.
Kriti Sanon hails Sanjay Leela Bhansali for backing female-led Gangubai Kathiawadi: “At least someone had the guts”
The actress, who is known for her outspoken views on the industry, shared her admiration for the film’s execution. She said, “Take a risk on the subject, not on who’s leading it. If a female-led film… the only one that comes to my mind, honestly, that has been at that scale, at that budget, was Gangubai Kathiawadi. You felt like it was larger than life. It would have been the same-looking film even if a man were leading it.”
Sanon further emphasized how Bhansali treated the story with cinematic extravagance: “And I felt like the budget, the shots, everything was taken in a larger-than-life way. When someone makes an entry, we call it a ‘hero shot’ — where you make someone look larger than life. That doesn’t normally happen when a female is leading a film like that. So I was very, very happy seeing that. At least someone had the guts to put in that much money on a female-led film.”
Released in 2022, Gangubai Kathiawadi starred Alia Bhatt in the titular role and went on to win five National Awards, cementing its place as one of the most successful and impactful female-led films in recent years. Beyond its critical acclaim, the film also sparked conversations about the representation of women in mainstream cinema and the commercial potential of stories led by female protagonists.
Looking ahead, anticipation is already building for Bhansali’s next ambitious project, Love & War. The film marks a collaboration between some of Bollywood’s biggest names — Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal — and is set to hit theatres on March 20, 2026.
While Gangubai Kathiawadi showcased how a female-led narrative can be delivered on an epic scale, Kriti Sanon’s remarks echo a larger sentiment within the industry — the need for more filmmakers and studios to back such stories without hesitation.
With Bhansali’s track record of crafting memorable cinematic experiences and his upcoming film already making headlines, it remains to be seen how Love & War will add to his legacy.
Also Read: Kriti Sanon drops truth bomb on her struggles: “No free lunches in Bollywood”
More Pages: Gangubai Kathiawadi Box Office Collection , Gangubai Kathiawadi Movie Review
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