Vivek Agnihotri, known for directing ‘The Kashmir Files’, has criticized Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming web series ‘Heeramandi’, accusing it of romanticizing brothels. Agnihotri has made these remarks despite admitting that he has not watched the show.
In a series of tweets, Agnihotri wrote that Bollywood has a tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels, labeling it a ‘sad commentary’ as brothels are not places of opulence, glamour, or beauty but monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering. He suggests viewers watch Shyam Benegal’s ‘Mandi’ to understand the true nature of brothels.
Agnihotri’s criticism was sparked by a critique of the web series by a Pakistani doctor, Hamd Nawaz, who pointed out historical and cultural inaccuracies in the show’s depiction of Lahore in the 1940s.
Agnihotri further questioned the morality of glamorizing human suffering in the name of creativity, asking if it is acceptable to portray slum life as opulent or depict slum dwellers in lavish attire.
Agnihotri’s comments have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some网友 defending Bhansali’s artistic freedom while others agreeing with Agnihotri’s critique.
‘Heeramandi’ is a web series set in the 1940s in Lahore and tells the story of courtesans in the city’s red light district. The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, and Aditi Rao Hydari, among others.
