Based on the chapters from Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi creates a world of its own that's sleazy violent, reckless but still overflowing with emotions. Starring Alis Bhatt in the titular role, the films shows the lanes of Kamathipura, one of the oldest red-light districts of Mumbai, and Bhansali captures them in the most extravagant way. The first half narrates Gangubai's story from being a barrister's daughter Ganga who was forced into sex trade and how she becomes Gangu with her shares of bruises and scars, the second half shows her rise as a 'gharwali' (Madame of a brothel) and eventually fighting the elections to be the president of Kamathipura. Alia delivers a superlative performance with her near perfect diction, dialect, expressions and how she emotes anger, rage, happiness and helplessness.