Shekhar Suman Talks About Sex Workers’ ‘Contribution’ In Society, Says ‘Heeramandi Was An Institution’

Shekhar Suman, who starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Heeramandi', talks about sex workers' an ‘immense contribution’ to society.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’ is set against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle in the 1940s.

Heeramandi series: Shekhar Suman recently starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut series, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. The series, which opened to mixed reviews, revolves around the lives of courtesans in Lahore’s Heeramandi. Shekhar Suman played the role of a Nawab from the British Raj in the period drama.

Shekhar Suman talks about sex workers 

In a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Shekhar talked about how sex workers have an ‘immense contribution’ to society. The actor said that courtesans are not just sex workers. 

“It is the society which has made them this way. A lot of times on the show, it has been spelt out that no woman becomes a prostitute out of choice. Circumstances often force a woman to become a sex worker. Despite all of this, their contribution to the society is immense… Jaha se hum aate hai, jis tareeka ki bhookh jo mardo mein hai, uska jo channelise waha hota hai uski wajah se samaj bacha rehta hai,” he said.

Shekhar Suman Heeramandi in Lahore

Shekhar added, “Kids were sent there, nawabs would learn from them. The contribution of Heeramandi was immense, it was an institution, but we have always viewed courtesans with a different connotation. There is nothing wrong with being a courtesan. In Heeramandi, their contribution to freedom movement was also shown, which was significant. They died unsung, unknown.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’ is set against the backdrop of India’s independence and freedom struggle in the 1940s. Along with Shekhar Suman his son Adhyayan Suman also essayed the roles of Nawab Zoravar and young Nawab Zulfikar in the series. The ensemble cast of the series includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Farida Jalal. ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is streaming on Netflix.