Inception Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt Says Gangubai Kathiawadi Felt Like Martin Scorsese Film; Does Stree 2 Hook Step With Rajkummar Rao

Hollywood star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for his roles in films like ‘Inception’, ‘500 Days of Summer’, shared his admiration for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi.'

Hollywood star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for his roles in films like ‘Inception’, ‘500 Days of Summer’, and ‘10 Things I Hate About You’, shared his admiration for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, revealing it sparked a deeper interest in Indian cinema. During a session at the IFP (formerly India Film Project) Season 14, where he spoke alongside Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, Gordon-Levitt discussed his newfound appreciation for Indian films. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt praises Gangubai Kathiawadi

When asked about his views on Indian cinema by Rao, Gordon-Levitt initially struggled to recall the name of his favorite Indian film. He sought Rao's help in identifying the movie starring Alia Bhatt in a historical role. Rao reminded him it was Bhansali's ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, a 2022 release that was based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’. The film features Bhatt as Gangubai, a powerful and respected madam of Kamathipura in the 1960s. 

Gordon-Levitt praised the film, calling it "unique, beautiful, and completely different" from anything he had seen before.  

"It was a very heavy, distinguished genre. At times, it felt like a Scorsese movie, then there were gorgeous musical numbers that felt so sincere and well-crafted. I found myself completely enamoured with this film," the actor said at the event. 

He also expressed how the movie inspired him to delve deeper into Indian cinema and explore its rich storytelling. "It made me want to learn more and more about Indian cinema. It's one of the reasons I wanted to come here. I love what I’m feeling from the culture—genuine love for movies and artistry. I want to come here and make a movie in India," he added. 

Gordon-Levitt shakes a leg with Rajkummar Rao

During the session, Rao, currently enjoying the success of his film ‘Stree 2’, asked if the Hollywood star would be interested in performing a song-and-dance sequence in an Indian film. Gordon-Levitt responded enthusiastically, saying, "Yeah." Rao then taught him the hook step from one of Stree 2’s hit songs, "Kati Raat Maine Kheto Mein." 

 

To add to the fun, Gordon-Levitt also performed a garba step to the popular song ‘Chogada’ from the film Loveyatri.