The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt was released on Friday. Since then the film which received positive feedback has been seeing immense growth in business. In the overseas markets as well, Gangubai Kathiawadi has emerged as the front runner at the box office window, surpassing other releases viz. the Pawan Kalyan starrer Bheemla Nayak and the Ajith starrer Valimai

Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi opened to a mammoth response. While the film managed to gross INR100million at the box office on the first day of release, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial also garnered praise from fans and fraternity members alike.

Many lauded Alia Bhatt for her brilliant portrayal of the matriarch from Kamatipura, including the likes of Kangana Ranaut, who had previously criticised makers for casting Alia in the leading role. Now, Samantha Ruth Prabhu has called the film a “masterpiece” while Sara Ali Khan has hailed Alia as her “inspiration”. Neetu Kapoor is asking fans to watch the film while Vicky Kaushal is taken aback by the “sheer brilliance”.

In a post shared on her Instagram Story, the Family Man 2 actor wrote, “Gangubai Kathiawadi is a masterpiece! Alia Bhatt, words aren’t enough to describe your performance. Every single dialogue and expression will be etched in my mind forever.”

Sara Ali Khan took to her Instagram handle on Friday to write, “Amazing, outstanding, brilliant! Alia Bhatt, you’re just the best. Truly an inspiration. How effortless and perfect are you?! Sanjay Sir, no words can do justice to how beautifully you shoot every frame and scene. Yet again, awe struck by you.”

Veteran star and Alia’s mother-in-law to be, Neetu, penned, “Watch how Alia Bhatt hits the ball out of the park,” she wrote. While Vicky was “absolutely shook by the sheer brilliance at display.” He added, “SLB Sir, you are a master! And Alia Bhatt, I don’t even know what to say about you. Breathtaking, amazing as Gangu, hats off!”

Janhvi Kapoor shared an Instagram Story writing, “Alia Bhatt, you are the definition of brilliance. Unparalleled level of craft and finesse and heart and soul. You as Gangubai is nothing short of cinematic magic.” And Malaika Arora added, “What a firecracker of a performance and film.”

Riteish Deshmukh took to Twitter to revel in the magic, too. He shared, “Saw Gangubai Kathiawadi last night, another magical experience. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an absolute master storyteller. Every frame in the film has perfection written all over it. Alia, you are gold! You are a fantastic actor but you have outdone yourself as Gangubai.”

Gangubai Kathiawadi also stars Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa and Indira Tiwari in significant roles. Based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi’s book, The Mafia Queens of Mumbai, the new period drama shows the journey of a matriarch, who was forced into prostitution as a child. She rises in the ranks and goes on to become a fierce madam of the brothel and a political leader. She also championed the rights of sex workers and their children.