As part of the BAFTA Awards promotion for the Alia Bhatt-starring movie Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has dazzled audiences in London this week by visiting a number of high-profile events. On November 28, at the legendary heart of British cinema, the filmmaker gave a speech as part of a special BAFTA Masterclass where he discussed his 25-year career arc. The event, which had a packed audience, was presented by Rachel Dwyer, a British novelist and former professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema at SOAS, University of London, and it served as the director's first-ever masterclass.
On November 29, at Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London, the award-winning filmmaker participated in a special discussion with British cinema critic Mike McCahill for the upcoming generation of the world's top creatives. Bhansali is the first Indian artist to be invited to lecture at the top-ranked fashion and art institution in the world, whose alumni include Stella McCartney, Kim Jones, and the late Alexander McQueen. Tayyib Sulaiman took the image used for the entire campaign.
The event, which was attended by hundreds of students, was held at the prestigious LVMH Theatre and a detailed discussion of Bhansali's emphasis on fashion, creative direction, and costume design in his films was followed by a Q&A session with students. Sanjay Leela Bhansali also attended a special red carpet screening of Gangubai Kathiawadi on November 30 at The Prince Charles Cinema, which was co-hosted by the UK Asian Film Festival. The Prince Charles Cinema is the final and most popular independent theatre left in London's "West End." Numerous fans, social media influencers, and British Asian artists attended the screening.
Speaking of his time in London, Bhansali remarked, “Speaking to audiences at the various events in London has been a wonderful experience for me. The BAFTA Masterclass took me back to my early days as a filmmaker. It was a thrilling experience to share my insights and interact with students at Central Saint Martins. Gangubai Kathiawadi continues to receive unprecedented love from audiences globally. I hope this love continues to pour our way.”
While in London, the director will attend a number of other events as part of his BAFTA Awards campaign for Alia Bhatt's film Gangubai Kathiawadi. The movie is up for consideration by BAFTA members in all categories, including Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress, and Film Not in the English Language.
