Sanjay Leela Bhansali discusses ‘tawaifs’ in his films: ‘Women standing in line for ration don’t fascinate me’ |

Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently discussed the persistent portrayal of ‘tawaifs‘ in his body of work. He highlighted how even in his latest project, Heeramandi, he explores the lives of courtesans.
In a new interview with Galatta Plus, Sanjay emphasised the allure and complexity surrounding women like courtesans, tawaifs, and prostitutes. He finds their enigmatic nature and the power they wield intriguing.These women, he observes, possess a unique ability to express themselves through music and dance, navigating a world where they are both artists and connoisseurs of life, deeply immersed in the aesthetics of architecture, fabric, and jewellery.

He further elaborated, expressing that he sees himself and his fellow artists as individuals who thrive on creating enigmatic art. He reminisced about his childhood, where ordinary faces didn’t captivate him like those of the artists.

Bhansali highlighted his inspirations from iconic figures like Madhubala in ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ and Nargis Dutt in ‘Adaalat’. Additionally, he mentioned being influenced by the works of V Shantaram, particularly Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s series, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,’ premiered on May 1. Starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, and more, the show delves into the vibrant world of Heeramandi, portraying the lives of courtesans and their patrons amidst the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle in the 1940s.