Gangubai Kothewali
Gangubai Kothewali was a sex worker, and the madam of a brothel in Kamathipura, Maharashtra, India in the 1960s.[1]
Life
She was sold into prostitution at an early age by her male suitor, Ramnik Lal, after running away from home to Mumbai. She came to be known as the Madam of Kamathipura for being an influential pimp in the city with underworld connections, peddling drugs, and ordering murders. In the 60's, she was the only brothel owner to own a Bentley, and later in life, even met Jawaharlal Nehru to discuss the plight of sex workers and improve their living conditions.[1][2][3]
In popular culture
Her life was documented in the 2011 book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, by writer and journalist Hussain Zaidi. In 2020, actress Alia Bhatt is starring in a biographical film titled, Gangubai Kathiawadi.[4]
References
- World, Republic. "Gangubai Kathiawadi: Who is Alia Bhatt portraying in the film?". Republic World. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- "Know Gangubai Kothewali, The Legendary Brothel Madam Alia Bhatt Will Be Playing In SLB's Next". Desimartini. 2019-09-22. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- "गंगूबाई कोठेवाली-पति ने ₹500 में बेचा था,भंसाली उनपर फिल्म बनाएंगे". Quint Hindi (in Hindi). 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- "Who was Gangubai Kathiawadi: The real woman behind Alia Bhatt's latest character". Vogue India. Retrieved 2020-01-21.