9 facts about Lahore's 'Heera Mandi' which has inspired Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Upcoming series

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given us larger-than-life movies in the last two decades. And his upcoming web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar does not seem like an exception to this rule.

Heeramandi

The series is based on the lives of courtesans in the red-light district of Lahores Heera Mandi during the British Raj. Interestingly, the area still exists, and here, we have listed some interesting facts about it.

Grain market

Heera Mandi, allegedly named after the Prime Minister of Lahores Sikh Kingdom, Hira Singh, was initially a grain market. The mandi underwent a transformation when visits from courtesans started in the area.

Mughal era

In the Mughal era, women from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan were brought to the region, where courtesans were initially associated with music, dance and other cultural pursuits. Over time, women from the Indian subcontinent joined, performing classical dances like Kathak, establishing the market as a cultural hub during the 15th and and 16th centuries.

Shahi Mohalla

Heera Mandi is also known as Shahi Mohalla or Royal Neighbourhood, this red-light district is situated next to the Lahore fort.

Association with sex work

Heera Mandis association with sex work began during Ahmad Shah Abdalis invasion when his troops captured women from sacked towns and cities.

Seems normal during day

The Heera Mandi, during the day, seems like a regular market known for its food, khussa shops and musical instrument stores. However, as night falls, a different element of the area reveals itself.

Bazaar-e-Husn

Once a center for performing arts ruled by emperors, Heera Mandi transitioned to serving wealthy city residents or raees, earning the nickname Bazaar-e-Husn or Market of Beauty.

Initially made for soldiers

These houses were originaly established by the British for the recreation of soldiers in the old Anarkali Bazaar. However, they were relocated to Lohari Gate and then to Taxali Gate. During Zia-ul-Haq’s rule in Pakistan, several efforts were made to eradicate sex work, but they were unsuccessful and the courtesan houses were shifted to other parts of Lahore.

Famous in the fiction world

The stories of Heera Mandis courtesans became famous in the fiction world. Anarkali, a courtesan from the Mughal court in Lahore, engaged in a forbidden romance with Prince Salim. This instance allegedly inspired K. Asifs Mughal-E-Azam.