By Ekta Chanana Last Updated:
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netflix series Heeramandi has been making headlines for its larger-than-life portrayal of courtesans in brothels. The story revolved around the life of courtesans and their patrons, and the cultural reality of Heeramandi. Famous Bollywood actresses Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Singha, Richa Chadha, and Sanjeeda Shaikh play pivotal roles. However, a Pakistani doctor openly criticised Sanjay Leela Bhansali's effort to portray Lahor's Heeramandi. Now, Vivek Agnihotri came in support and revealed how Heeramandi is not actually the way it is depicted in the film.
Vivek Agnihotri lauded Pakistani doctor, Hamd Nawaz for openly talking about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi and informing the world that it wasn't a place of glamour. He added that he had not seen the show, but he had visited Heeramandi in Lahore. Vivek also highlighted Bollywood's tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels. However, in reality, it is the monuments of human injustice, pain and suffering. He wrote:
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"A brilliant critique by @_SophieSchol. I haven’t seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. It’s a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour or beauty. These are monuments of human injustice, pain and suffering. Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegal’s Mandi."
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Not only this Vivek also questioned how creativity can give the freedom of glamorising human suffering and depicting slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they were attending an Ambani wedding. He wrote:
"Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamorize human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance? Is it okay to portray slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they are attending an Ambani wedding? Pls discuss."
Pakistani Doctor, Hamd Nawaz revealed that Bhansali should know that the courtesans never had the financial security even to afford the jewels. She also highlighted that they never wore heavy bridal outfits. Sharing a google photo of the diamond bazaar in Lahore, Hamd wrote:
"Bhansali was just one google search away from this actual photo of “diamond bazar”. No two-story curtain, no makeup/filler/face-lift/brow-lift, chamka-chamki gota kinari flying around in 2 Kanal courtyard and summer heat. Yes, the dresses were fancy, but only in performances."
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What do you think about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi?
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