Gangubai Kathiawadi/Kothewali Age, Death, Husband, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Gangubai Kathiawadi/Kothewali

• During the 1960s, Gangubai Kothewali emerged as a highly feared female figure within Mumbai’s underworld.

• During the 1960s, she was the proprietor of numerous brothels in Mumbai.

• Gangubai earned the nickname ‘Madam of Kamathipura’ due to her immense popularity.

• In Gujarat’s Kathiawad region, she was born into a highly esteemed Gujarati family.

• In her childhood, she had dreams of becoming an actress.

• In her college days, Gaungubai found herself enamored with Ramnik Lal, who happened to be her father’s accountant. Their love led them to elope from her family’s home.

• It appears that they got married and moved to Mumbai, where Ramnik unscrupulously sold Gangubai into prostitution for a mere Rs. 500.

• Gangubai, hailing from the challenging streets of Mumbai’s Kamathipura, transformed into a resilient woman due to the hardships she encountered.

• Karim Lala was the dominant figure ruling over Kamathipura during that period.

• According to reports, Gangubai allegedly experienced sexual assault by one of Karim’s henchmen. Subsequently, she approached Karim seeking justice.

• Gangubai went so far as to tie a Rakhi to Karim during her visit.

• Despite being a victim of the prostitution trade, Gangubai emerged as one of the most feared pimps in Kamathipura during the 60s.

• She catered to a wide range of notorious criminal organizations and gang members.

• Although Gangubai was a brothel owner, she had a deep compassion for women who were forced into prostitution, treating them with the love and care of a mother.

• Gangubai found herself embroiled in a skirmish with a prominent member of a well-known gang in Mumbai due to her unwavering support for a girl who claimed to have been a victim of his alleged rape.

• It appears that she never coerced any young woman into engaging in prostitution.

• Gangubai dedicated her efforts to improving the living conditions of sex workers and homeless children.

• Gangubai maintained a network of connections with numerous gangsters in Mumbai, as they frequented her as regular clients.

• Gangubai became the pioneer in establishing a network of brothels, opening franchises across various cities in the country.

• In the 1960s, she was involved in drug trafficking and allegedly responsible for several murders that occurred in Mumbai and its surrounding areas.

• Gangubai approached the former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, to address the challenges confronted by sex workers in the nation.

• It appears that Nehru was greatly impressed by her clear thinking and leadership abilities.

• According to reports, it is said that Gangubai had presented a proposition to Jawaharlal Nehru in response to his question about why she chose to enter the brothel trade instead of pursuing a respectable marriage and job.

• Despite residing in the impoverished slums of Kamathipura, Gangubai was far from destitute. In fact, she held the esteemed title of being the sole brothel owner in possession of a sleek Black Bentley during the 1960s.

• Gangubai gained a reputation as the protector of numerous gangsters, ensuring they had safe havens.

• Gangubai firmly held the belief that her choice to offer her body for others’ pleasure did not grant anyone the authority to mistreat or diminish her dignity.

• Although she worked in a brothel, her compassionate nature had garnered numerous admirers. Even to this day, her idols and photo frames adorn the walls of Kamathipura.

• Hussain Zaidi has included her story in one of the chapters of his book, “Mafia Queens Of Mumbai,” which he authored.

• The filmmaker, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, created a film in 2021 that showcased the life of Gangubai Kathiawadi. Titled “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” the Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt took on the lead role in this production. A captivating film poster was also crafted to promote this movie.

• Priyanka Chopra was the first choice for the film but declined due to scheduling conflicts. Rani Mukerji also turned down the offer. Eventually, Alia Bhatt was chosen for the role.

• Actress Alia Bhatt, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and writer Hussain Zaidi were summoned by the Mumbai High Court in April 2021 based on a complaint filed by Gangubai’s adopted son, Babuji Rawji Shah. The family lawyer, Narendra Dubey, expressed his concerns about the film’s portrayal of Gangubai, stating that it was completely inaccurate and baseless. He found it offensive and vulgar to depict a social activist as a prostitute, and no family would approve of such a representation. According to Dubey, Gangubai had been unjustly depicted as a villainous character. He also mentioned that the court was still reviewing the case and had asked Shah to provide credible evidence supporting his claim of being Gangubai’s son. Despite submitting evidence, there is currently no scheduled hearing for the matter. Dubey further highlighted the toll the continuous questioning about Gangubai’s profession had taken on the family’s mental well-being, preventing them from finding peace in their lives.

• Bharti, the daughter of Gangubai’s adopted son Babuji Rawji Shah, was Gangubai’s beloved granddaughter.

• In an interview, Babuji Rawji Shah discussed the film and expressed his deep sadness over the disturbing remarks made about his mother, who unfortunately works as a prostitute.

• Check out this fascinating video detailing the biography of Gangubai Kathiawadi.