It is the society which has made them this way: Shekhar

There is nothing wrong with being a courtesan: Shekhar

hekhar Suman played the role of Nawab Zulfikar in Heeramandi

Heeramandi directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been receiving positive reviews ever since its release on Netflix. Actor Shekhar Suman played the role of Nawab Zulfikar in the series. He talked about how courtesans and their lives reflected the social realities of the time they lived in. “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 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 (The society is safe because men get to channelise their sexual hunger towards sex workers),” he said in an interview with Radio Nasha. 

Also Read: Will Shekhar Suman campaign for Kangana Ranaut now that he has joined BJP?; here’s what he said

The series is set in Lahore during the 1940s. The courtesans were often visited by the Nawabs of those times. “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,” Suman added.