Alia Bhatt’s garba to Deepika Padukone’s ghoomar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings Indian culture to films

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films are one of a kind and he brings the best of Indian culture to the screen through his leading ladies. From Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi to Deepika Padukone in Padmaavat, here’s the list.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films are not just a celluloid adaptation of a story, but a cinematic experience that is one of its kind. His craft speaks the language of love, a language beyond boundaries, something which is unthinkable, something that's larger than life. And while all this does require great research, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is always incomplete without extravagant sets, stunning costumes, a lot of commitment to offer a magnificent work of art and, of course, the magic of his leading ladies who surrender themselves to him and turn his vision into spectacular content. All that's unmissable.

From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Madhuri Dixit Nene in Devdas, Deepika Padukone in Padmaavat to Priyanka Chopra in Bajirao Mastani, and now his new muse Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroines are something else.

Yes, there is this extraordinary talent in Sanjay Leela Bhansali that makes these women look splendidly beautiful on screen so much so that no other director has ever been able to match his quality, his art of showcasing a distinct identity of Indian cinema - an art that is culturally rich. Perhaps, with every project, Sanjay Leela Bhansali only seems to be embracing traditions through his songs. Each frame of his masterpieces is only becoming more and more detailed.

Case in point, Dholida - the first track from his Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi. It speaks so much more than what's visible on screen. In fact, it perfectly depicts the rich culture of Gujarat in the form of lyrics and of course, with Alia breaking into folk dance, Garba, for the first time in her first collaboration with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The right amount of energy, the body language and everything in between, is perfect. Alia has aced it as much as Deepika Padukone did in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013, when she gracefully performed garba along with Ranveer Singh, celebrating the essence of the grandeur of Gujarat.

Being Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s muse for a traditional track like Nagada Sang Dhol Baje, comes with its own set of challenges. But Deepika is one of his leading ladies, who over the years, has honed her skills.

In fact, her dedication towards his work of art only led to upping her scale with each folk performance and it was quite evident when she struck a chord in 2018 with the quintessential Rajasthani Ghoomar for their third collaboration, Padmaavat.