EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Leela Bhansali addresses glorification

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the Indian director who is known for making visually stunning and emotionally charged historical epics, has recently revealed what inspired him to create the much hyped Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Beyond being a box office star, Bhansali always aims at creating an immersive experience for his audience. It was his first series meant for streaming and it did receive mixed reactions on its historical accuracy.

EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Leela Bhansali addresses glorification of courtesans; historical accuracy of Heeramandi: “My work is not supposed to be seen as if rooted in reality”

Bhansali’s vision of this upcoming film project Heeramani: The Dimond Bazaar set in a distant past was shared with Bollywood Hungama during an interview. Although the story starts within a particular background, focusing on all aspects of life in that era, Bhansali tried emphasizing that his creative imagination drives it.The key goal behind this is to make an atmosphere which can connect with audiences more deeply, even if he may have some minor changes in details concerning history these days.

He said about why he finds such stories about women working as sex slaves interesting “These women are beautiful number one. These were very sophisticated women, they knew how artful living would look like in terms of poetry; they were learned masters on culture and etiquette through tradition. They knew tradition…classical dancing and classical music…they had gone through hell lots of suffering…. And that was fun showing them all dressed up.”They had inner politics and fights to survive just like any middle class woman or lower class woman either man or woman has their own struggles to survive.”

She added “So I have shown not only the glamorous aspect behind but also there’s lot inside every close-up why she is reacting like this? What has she gone through? What does she want to achieve?? Or to stand by the tradition of every daughter having to be a tawaif as the girl protesting and saying I don’t want to. So as a mother (Mallikajaan played by Manisha Koirala), she gives us the supreme sacrifice of getting out of it.”

He said, “So these are turmoil stories that we created, some from hearsay, others about real characters,” “Not my work is not supposed to be seen as if rooted in reality, in a documentary on Lahore and Heeramandi. It’s an impression of Lahore. It’s an impression of Heeramandi. It’s an impression of artisans and living that life. I don’t know how it can be realistic because I was not there in that era. I did not see that world so I cannot document it as clearly as the Heermandi today from the Heeramandi 30s or 20s. So when you’re creating a work of fiction, it is just to create an experience for you to say what maybe those women went through.”That is the joy of filmmaking…to convey an atmosphere…a psychological mood upon your mind…and what might have been happening at that time.”

“This indicates that their fighting for freedom,” he said. All of these women were in bondage – Gangubai was not free, Mastani was a prisoner. Women who are treated as commodities and used for their beauty or bodies and women who do not want to be part of it anymore because they don’t have dignity. No one deserves such kind of punishment like lack of dignity because it is a right of every human being in the world. Every woman must have dignity. Even if I end up being forced into prostitution due to some circumstances as mentioned by Gangubai, then I will take pride over my situation. It gives me pride to be called a whore; it is bringing honour upon my profession. I am going all out on this matter.” These were multi-layered women when they found purpose in Azadi and freedom, people should understand this, they are more than just clothes and fancy songs and song picturisation on them.

Heeramandi (translated to “Diamond Market”) revolves around the lives of courtesans inhabiting Lahore’s red light district during British Raj. With an ensemble cast comprising seasoned actresses Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha alongside Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal and Sanjeeda Shaikh among others.