Yesterday, the trailer for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ dropped online, starring Alia Bhatt. TBH, the trailer looked promising and it can be said that Alia Bhatt is currently at the peak of her acting career. Have a look at the trailer here.
However, in the trailer, there is a scene capturing Gangubai’s visit to the dentist. The dentist’s character is played by an actor who looks as though he’s from the Northeast. When the dentist asks Gangubai to open her mouth wider, she tells him, “Pura China muh mein ghusayega?”
Several people on Twitter have called out this dialogue as “racist” and “xenophobic”. Have a look at some of the tweets here:
Really liked the trailer of #GangubaiKathiawadi until the racist dialogue 🙂 Bollywood will never change
— ✨ (@muskaanxsmile) February 4, 2022
"poora China muh mein daalega kya ?"
Of course, because the dentist is North Eastern so he is Chinese right ?
Racism and Xenophobia at its worst!#GangubaiKathiawadi pic.twitter.com/fGMXC3djpe
— Attitudnal Boy (@VivekSrkian33) February 4, 2022
komedi is when racism and the more racist you are the more komedi it is#GangubaiKathiawadiTrailer pic.twitter.com/CsadMLVxo8
— Mohammed Saud-ur-Rehman Siddiqui ☭ (@gareebkhusrau) February 4, 2022
#GangubaiKathiawadiTrailer is both racist and transophobic. It's going to be one of the worst creations of Slb.
— AyanBir*KSJ ♐ (@KarmaStrikesAll) February 4, 2022
Great trailer but what was the need for the racist dialogue “pura china muh me ghusayega?” @aliaa08 #GangubaiKathiawadiTrailer
— zheelspeaks (@zheelspeaks) February 4, 2022
We need to keep in mind that the film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is set in the 1960s – a period when people weren’t sure what they were saying was racist. Do you think it is fair to view a period drama with the sensibilities of today?