Sanjay Leela Bhansali to deliver BAFTA masterclass 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has commenced an awards campaign for Gangubai Kathiawadi for the 76th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA Awards). The film starring Alia Bhatt was released to critical and commercial acclaim earlier this year. 

The upcoming BAFTAs will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London in February 2023. As part of the campaign, Gangubai Kathiawadi will be submitted for BAFTA members’ consideration in all categories including Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress and Film Not in the English Language.

Gangubai Kathiawadi was added to the official screening calendar for BAFTA voting members in October. Sanjay will be visiting London for numerous events to support the campaign. He will also deliver a BAFTA Masterclass on November 28. 

Sanjay's 2002 film Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit Nene, was previously nominated at the 56th BAFTA Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. 

Speaking about Gangubai Kathiwadi and the awards push, Sanjay said in a statement, “We are immensely blessed to have received so much appreciation for our film globally and we’re very excited to be part of the conversation this awards season amongst BAFTA voters.”

Alia Bhatt said, “It is a great honour to take Gangubai Kathiawadi to the world stage and it gives me nothing but joy to be on this journey with Sanjay Sir. The world has shown the film a lot of love and appreciation and we are excited to receive this love in the UK as well."