Shekhar Suman explains the difference between ‘tawaifs’ and sex workers: ‘They died unsung, unknown’

Shekhar Suman, currently seen in Heeramandi, explained the difference between the courtesans shown in the series and the sex workers that they have been confused with.

Shekhar Suman is currently seen in Heeramandi. (Photo: Shekhar Suman/Instagram)

Actor Shekhar Suman said that sex workers are a products of the society, and that they cannot be put in the same bracket as the ‘tawaifs’, or courtesans, shown in the new Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. In an interview with Radio City, Shekhar Suman said that courtesans are often viewed from a “wrong lens,” and are mis-labelled as 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 bhook 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 through sex workers),” he said.

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Shekhar Suman said back in the day, people were sent to Heeramandi–which was like a ‘finishing school’– to learn “antiquates, manners, the art of lovemaking, poetry, music and dance.”

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“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,” he added.

Based on the courtesans of Lahore and the life of red-light district in undivided India, Heeramandi also stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chaddha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal. The series marked the streaming debut of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

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