Inside Photos: Alia Bhatt, Meezaan Jafri and many more grace Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s birthday bash

Alia Bhatt, Meezaan Jafri grace Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s birthday bash/Picture Courtesy: Yogen Shah

Sanjay Leela Bhansali hasn't made too many media appearances in the last many years of his career. He has often spoken about how he goes back to his shell once his films are over. He's most of the times occupied by his work and it shows in the cinema he crafts and mounts. But 2021 has sprung a surprise.

Bhansali, who turned 58 on February 24, threw a birthday party for his friends and family , and the bash was graced by Alia Bhatt, Meezaan Jafri, Ismail Darbar, and others. But first talking about the man of the moment, whose Gangubai Kathiawadi is all set for a release on July 30 and whose teaser came out on his birthday itself.

Before going inside and being greeted by his family and friends, the filmmaker posed for the paparazzi and could be seen thanking them for their love and wishes with folded hands.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali arriving for his birthday bash, Picture Courtesy: Yogen Shah

In the next picture, he posed with his mother Leela Bhansali and it was great to see the mother-son duo together after a long time. This indeed made for an emotional and heartfelt moment.

Who can forget the iconic music of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas? And who can forget the man behind those haunting tunes? Ismail Darbar also arrived at the party to be a part of SLB's celebrations. Wish the duo collaborates again in the future.

Meezaan Jafri, who made his Bollywood debut with Malaal, which was produced by Bhansali, also arrived in a cool and casual avatar. He could be seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

The leading lady of that film Sharmin Segal also kept it causal yet stylish. She carried a white top and purple pants with ease.

Talking about the woman of the moment, Alia Bhatt slayed in her white dress and stunned with her attire. She posed for the flash bulbs and rocked in her smoldering avatar.

Oops! We wonder what made the Raazi star so angry as she could be seen shouting at someone. Did anyone flout the COVID-19 norms?

Here was another great moment as Bhatt greeted everyone from the balcony truly like a queen. She plays the eponymous character in the aforementioned film and this happens to be one of her most ambitious roles yet. She still seems to be in the emotional slate of that woman she essays on the celluloid.

Bhansali and Bhatt posed from the balcony for the media and they both defined style and simplicity. Bhansali has three blockbusters behind him and Gangubai Kathiawadi should be the fourth one in a row. Because only this filmmaker can make the gritty world of Kamathipura look grand and gorgeous.

And in an inside video shared by one of Alia's fans on Instagram, everyone cheered for the filmmaker as he cut his birthday cake, have a look right here:

Bhansali, who is known for mounting grand dance numbers like Dola re dola (Devdas, 2002), Pinga (Bajirao Mastani, 2015) and Ghoomar (Padmaavat, 2018), has saved the best for the last. Come this week of February, the director will film two songs with his leading lady before calling it a wrap on the project.

"Alia has been given a fortnight's break; she is utilising the time to rehearse for the two tracks. One of them is a typical Bhansali number, envisioned on a lavish scale, complete with 200 background dancers," reveals a source. The tracks will be picturised on the set, a replica of Kamathipura, which was built at Film City in Goregaon for the movie. The source adds, "The unit had filmed a song last year before the lockdown was imposed. On resuming work in October, Sanjay sir decided to finish the sequences before he could turn his attention to the song-and-dance routines."