Journalist Spots Modern Newspaper in Bhansali's Heeramandi Amid Backlash over Historical Gaffe

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT series Heeramandi on Netflix dazzles with its grandeur but faces criticism for historical inaccuracies. An eagle-eyed netizen pointed out a scene featuring Sonakshi Sinha reading a newspaper showcasing contemporary events, leading to discussions over inaccuracies in the show.

Hyderabad:Sanjay Leela Bhansali's highly anticipated series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar aired on Netflix on May 1. It is based on the lives of courtesans in Lahore's red-light district during India's freedom movement from the British Raj. Bhansali left no stone unturned to weave his magic on OTT, from magnificent sets to striking jewellery. However, the show invited criticism as a former journalist pointed out faults and goof-ups in SLB's Heeramandi.

Amidst reviews and discussions about the show on social media, a netizen pointed out that a sequence in the series was inaccurate given the period it depicts. An image has gone viral, showing Sonakshi Sinha reading a newspaper with headlines regarding events like the Warangal Municipal Elections and mask distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the breathtaking spectacle, observant viewers, including veteran journalist Pervaiz Alam, discovered flaws that jeopardised the narrative's historical accuracy.

In the scene, Sonakshi Sinha's character, Fardeen, can be seen reading an Urdu newspaper on current events like the Warangal Municipal Elections and a Youth Congress mask distribution scheme that did not exist in 1920. Furthermore, the newspaper's masthead, Tez Hawa, appeared in reverse, which was not a prevalent practice back then. Sharing the screengrab, Alam wrote: "Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic web series Heera Mandi on Netflix is set against the Indian independence/British Raj in Lahore of the 1920s-1940s. Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha) is supposedly reading an Urdu newspaper (EP5). Headlines say, “Warangal Municipal Elections: TRS Distributes Tickets”, “The Launch of a Scheme to Distribute 50,000 Masks by Youth Congress."

Furthermore, a number of social media users have also chastised the director for not portraying the true Heera Mandi and falsifying history. A Lahore-based doctor has posted a lengthy note on X to explain how the Heeramandi neighbourhood differs from what Bhansali depicted in the series. The X user also questioned the actors' costumes. "Bhansali's search should've extended beyond Bridal Couture," she wrote on X.

The eight-part series is set in Lahore during the pre-independence era and follows the life of courtesans who previously governed the province. The show's cast includes Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, Fardeen Khan, and Farida Jalal.

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