With the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, we wanted to take a look back at how courtesans have been depicted through Indian film and media over the years.

Madhubala in ‘Mughal E Azam’

‘Mughal E Azam’ is one of the most iconic Bollywood films, and it follows the passionate love story between Mughal Prince Salim and the courtesan dancer Anarkali. Actress Madhubala played the role of Anarkali, and her dancing has become evergreen through the epic songs ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ and ‘Mohe Panghat’.

Meena Kumari in ‘Pakeezah’

Actress Meena Kumari plays the role of a courtesan named Sahibjaan in the 1972 film ‘Pakeezah’. In the film, Sahibjaan ends up falling in love with a forest ranger named Salim, and the impending nuptials bring complications to her life as a courtesan. Production of the film lasted 15 years, and Kumari’s health severely started to decline during filming due to her alcoholism.

Rekha in ‘Umrao Jaan’

The 1981 version of Umrao Jaan features Rekha in the lead role, as she plays the character of Amiran, a girl who is sold to a madam in Lucknow to become a courtesan. She becomes an extraordinary poet and a young nawab feudal lord falls deeply in love with her. The film follows their love story and the lives of the courtesans in the 1840’s.

Madhuri Dixit in ‘Devdas’

Madhuri Dixit enacted the role of the kind-hearted courtesan Chandramukhi in the 2002 Sanjay Leela Bhansali epic ‘Devdas’. When Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Devdas, leaves his home and love of his life Paro (played by Aishwarya Rai), he takes refuge at Chandramukhi’s courtesan home. Through her interactions with Devdas, Chandramukhi falls in love with him, knowing that he will never feel the same way.

Alia Bhatt in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’

Alia Bhatt won a Filmfare Award for her portrayal of the courtesan Gangubai, who gets sold into prostitution by her lover. Gangubai suffers from assault and abuse over the years before becoming the “queen” of Kamathipura (the red-light district of Bombay). She amasses power with the women of the district in order to bring more equality to courtesans.

The women of ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s most recent release is ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, which highlights the lives of the courtesans of Lahore who participated in the pre-independence movement in India. The Netflix series stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha and Aditi Rao Hydari as they depict the stories of the women who grew up as courtesans.