Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Netflix series Heeramandi is making headlines with its larger-than-life portrayal of courtesans in brothels. The story revolved around the lives of the courtesans and their patrons as well as the cultural reality The Constitution. Famous Bollywood actresses Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Singha, Richa Chadha and Sanjeeda Shaikh play pivotal roles. However, a Pakistani doctor openly criticized Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s attempt to portray Lahor’s Heeramandi. Now, Vivek Agnihotri came to the rescue and revealed that Heeramandi is not really as it is portrayed in the film.
Vivek Agnihotri criticizes Sanjay Leela Bhansali and how he glorified the brothels and courtesans
Vivek Agnihotri praised Pakistani doctor Hamd Nawaz for speaking openly about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s illness The Constitution and to inform the world that it was not a place of glamour. He added that he did not watch the show but visited Heeramandi in Lahore. Vivek also highlighted Bollywood’s tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. In reality, however, they are monuments to human injustice, pain and suffering. He wrote:
“A brilliant review from @_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. Glamor or beauty. These are monuments to human injustice, pain and suffering. If you are not familiar with it, you should check out Shyam Benegal’s Mandi.
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Furthermore, Vivek questioned how creativity can create the freedom to glorify human suffering and depict slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they were attending an Ambani wedding. He wrote:
“We also have to ask ourselves the question: Does creativity give us the freedom to glorify human suffering? Is it okay to make a film that portrays life in slums as a life of excess? Are you attending an Ambani wedding?
When a Pakistani doctor expressed her opinion on Heeramandi and revealed that the courtesans could not wear expensive jewelry and clothes
Pakistani doctor Hamd Nawaz revealed that Bhansali should have known that the courtesans never had the financial security to even afford the jewels. She also emphasized that they never wore heavy bridal outfits. Share a Google photo of the diamond bazaar In Lahore, Hamd wrote:
“Bhansali was just a Google search away from this actual photo of Diamond Bazar. No 2 tier curtain, no makeup/filler/face lift/brow lift, chamka-chamki gota kinari flying around in the 2kanal yard and summer heat. Yes, the clothes were chic, but only for performances.
What do you think about Sanjay Leela Bhansali? The Constitution?
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