Bombay HC dismisses two petitions against Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi ahead of release

Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi has been making the news ever since the release of its teaser, but for all the wrong reasons. The film is set to release this weekend in theatres and ahead of the same, it is fighting a legal battle. Three petitions were filed against the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial and the Bombay High Court heard the petitions earlier today.

For the unversed, three petitions were filed against the Alia Bhatt-starrer over the use of words Kathiawad and Kamathipura in the film. As per a tweet by ANI, two petitions have been dismissed and the other one has been disposed off. The full tweet reads: “Bombay High Court dismisses two petitions against the film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and disposes off another petition against the movie.”

The petitions against the film were filed by MLA Amin Patel and another Hiten Mehta. These were heard today by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta’s bench.

Another petition was filed against the film over the usage of the word ‘China’ in one of the released trailers. SLB’s lawyer, however, argued that the petition should be dismissed as the intention behind the use of word ‘China’ was not to hurt the Northeastern people. Instead, the actor for which the word was used is a Chinese actor and not someone who belongs from Northeast India.

Apart from the legal trouble, the film also found itself getting flak online after the trailer showed Vijay Raaz play the role of a transwoman. Netizens claimed that instead of picking Vijay, who identifies as heterosexual male, someone from the trans community should have been picked for the role. Alia Bhatt had defended Vijay and also showed support for SLB.