Why is Sanjay Leela Bhansali interested in tawaifs? Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the celebrated filmmaker known for his grand and emotionally charged storytelling, has consistently woven the presence of tawaifs (courtesans) into his cinematic narratives.
From the iconic portrayal of Chandramukhi by Madhuri Dixit in “Devdas” to the enigmatic Gulabji played by Rani Mukerji in “Saawariya,” and more recently, Alia Bhatt’s powerful performance as “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” Bhansali’s fascination with these characters is evident.
His latest project, “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” continues this tradition, featuring six courtesans as central figures.
Why is Sanjay Leela Bhansali interested in tawaifs
In a recent interview with an Indian media outlet, Bhansali shed light on his enduring interest in tawaifs.
He explained that his fascination stems from the rich, complex stories these figures have to tell.
Bhansali is drawn to their multifaceted lives, which encompass beauty, art, resilience, and tragedy, providing a profound depth and emotional gravitas to his films.
The tawaifs, often portrayed with a mix of grace and strength, serve as pivotal characters that drive the narrative and add layers of cultural and historical context to his storytelling.
He said, “I feel they are women who have a lot of enigma, a lot of mystery. The courtesan, or the tawaif, or the prostitute… they are different, but they always exude a certain kind of power which I find very interesting to look at…”
“I found that very fascinating, that these women are very interesting. Where they sing, they dance. Where they express themselves; their joy and their grief in music and dance. They understand the art of living, the importance of architecture, the use of fabric, and the kind of jewellery they wear. They are connoisseurs of art,” the filmmaker detailed.
Bhansali continued, “Hum log kya hein? Hum log artist log hain. Usko ap samajhgir bolo, bhand bolo… jo chahe bolo. Mere ko to woh chahiye (Who are we? We are artists. Whatever you might call them, I still need them). I have to create something that is very enigmatic. As a child, all those people that would pass by… mein school mein jaata hu toh ye chehre mujhe fascinate karte he. Waha pe jo ration ki line mein jo chaar middle-class housewives khade hain woh mujhe fascinate nahi karti (When I used to go to school, I was fascinated by those faces, rather than those four middle-class women in the ration line, they did not interest me).”
Tale of Heera Mandi:
Do you know?
What Sanjay Leela Bhansali calls a “beautiful world of Heera Mandi”, might have witnessed the painful tears of so many Hindu women during the Mughal rule & then under Ahmed Shah Abdali
(Thread) pic.twitter.com/iBj786ltim
— SagasofBharat (@SagasofBharat) February 22, 2023
Notably, his latest web series also follows six courtesans, essayed by Sonakshi Sinha, Sharmin Segal, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala and Sanjeeda Sheikh, and their lives in the red-light district of Lahore.
