Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to make Gangubai Kathiawadi with Rani Mukerji and not Alia Bhatt? Aditya Narayan reveals

Singer and television host Aditya Narayan opened up about working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali as an assistant director after his film flopped.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s last film, Gangubai Kathiawadi, impressed audiences, with Alia Bhatt’s performance in the titular role even winning her a National Award at the 69th National Film Awards. However, singer Aditya Narayan, who once worked with Bhansali as an assistant director, revealed that the filmmaker initially wanted to make Gangubai Kathiawadi with Rani Mukerji.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to cast Rani Mukerji in Gangubai Kathiawadi.

During a chat with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their YouTube Channel, Aditya shared that Shaapit was one of the “few failures” in his life, explaining that before then, all his shows and songs had worked well and become hits. He admitted that he agreed to do the film mainly because he wanted to sing, and it was being directed by Vikram Bhatt. However, while the film’s songs turned out to be popular, the film itself flopped at the box office.

He revealed that after the flop, he struggled to find work and recalled being jobless for almost a year. He shared that even a “ ₹2 PR person” refused to work with him, and the films and shows he had been offered earlier suddenly disappeared. Things changed when he was offered the chance to host X Factor, where Sanjay Leela Bhansali was one of the judges.

How Aditya Narayan became Sanjay Leela Bhansali's assistant

While Aditya Narayan is currently appearing in Ashneer Grover’s show Rise & Fall, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is busy shooting his upcoming film Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. The film is scheduled for release in 2026.