Celebrated filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently brought his ambitious Heeramandi web series to the audience. The show cast many talented actors from the industry, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha, and Sharmin Segal.
It has been over a month since the show’s release, and Netflix India recently announced Heeramandi Season 2. During an event in Mumbai, 100 dancers performed together and unveiled that the show has been renewed for another season.
While the audience thoroughly enjoyed Heeramandi, a few movies like the web series exist. The list includes Gangubai Kathiawadi, Devdas, and more.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Another Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial, Gangubai Kathiawadi, saw Alia Bhatt take the lead role. The movie came out to be one of the biggest films in India led by a female. While it broke records, its plot was allegedly inspired by the real-life Gangubai Kathiawadi, who led a life filled with struggles.
While the Heeramandi web series saw the bazaar of Lahore, the movie is based on Kamathipura of Mumbai. Besides Bhatt, the movie also starred Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jim Sarbh, Chhaya Kadam, and a cameo by Huma Qureshi.
The movie’s official synopsis says, “Duped and sold to a brothel, a young woman fearlessly reclaims her power, using underworld connections to preside over the world she was once a pawn in.”
Devdas
The 2002 period romance drama Devdas is one of the classics of Indian cinema. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in the titular role, the film scored a record viewership that year. While Aishwarya Rai played his love interest, Paro, Madhuri Dixit portrayed the role of a courtesan, Chandramukhi, who also falls in love with Devdas.
The movie’s plot revolves around a failed love story that soon turns into a heartbreaking triangle. It is based on the 1917 novel of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed and co-wrote the movie, which is now available to catch on Jio Cinema.
Begum Jaan
Begum Jaan is Vidya Balan’s 2017 period drama helmed by Srijit Mukherji. The film was the official Hindi remake of the Bengali film Rajkahini and came out to be average at the box office.
Much like Heeramandi, it follows the story of a brothel in a village on the Radcliffe Line. While Balan plays the titular role, Pallavi Sharda, Gauahar Khan, Priyanka Setia, and others play supporting characters. As the partition brings downfall to her business, Begum Jaan refuses to leave her land.
Kalank
The 2017 star-studded film Kalank is also a period drama set in the pre-independence era. It features a sneak peek into the life of Heeramandi, the most popular street in Lahore. Helmed by Abhishek Verman, the film starred Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditya Roy Kapur, Madhuri Dixit, and Sanjay Dutt in leading roles.
The movie’s official synopsis reads, “Set in 1945, in pre-independent India, Kalank is the story of a vivid and ethereal world, lost when the fire of Partition engulfs the city and the country. It’s the story of the shades of reds in their lives as they years for hues of love while Husnabad gets soaked in the reds of violence and revenge.”
Pakeezah
Another Indian classic, the 1972 romance drama Pakeezah, sheds light on the life of courtesans. It starred Meena Kumari and Raaj Kumar in the lead roles, and Kamal Amrohi directed it.
For the unversed, it is the story of a courtesan and a forest ranger falling in love. However, many obstacles in their love story stand in the way of their happiness.
In conclusion, there are a few movies like Heeramandi, but they all are unique in their own way.
