Gangubai To Chameli: Portrayal Of Sex Workers In Bollywood Films

Mainstream bollywood has seldom delved into the world of sex workers in its storytelling. It took several years until Alia Bhatt's performance in 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' brought the lives of sex workers into the global spotlight in 2022. This film not only shattered records worldwide but also emerged as one of the year's biggest blockbusters, marking one of the first major hits since the pandemic.

Through 'Gangubai Kathiawadi,' the film shed light on the humanity of sex workers, depicting them as integral parts of society with their own struggles and asserting that they should not be stigmatized. However, a handful of bollywood films featuring A-list actors have left their mark by portraying the lives of sex workers from various perspectives. Here is a selection of such Bollywood films that have explored the complex narratives of sex workers.

Chameli (What Is Chameli Movie About?)

Starring Kareena Kapoor and Rahul Bose, the 2004 Hindi coming-of-age film Chameli managed to give the lives of sex workers a humane touch. The film focused on men’s lens through which they look at sex workers as "impure" and "foul-mouthed" women and revealed the human aspect of sex workers who are treated like commodities.

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Begum Jaan

Written and directed by National Film Award-winning director Srijit Mukherji, the 2017 Hindi period drama film Begum Jaan is a Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed 2015 Bengali film Rajkahini. Vidya Balan portrays the primary character of a brothel's madam in this film, which is set in 1948 during the final years of Indian Independence.

Gangubai Kathiawadi

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the 2022 Hindi film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt in the lead, is a biographical crime drama. The film is based on the true story of Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawadi, popularly known as Gangubai Kothewali, whose life was documented in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S. Hussain Zaidi. The book is a collection of stories about women who were part of Mumbai’s underworld. Gangubai Kathiawadi, one of the most influential women in Kamathipura, a red-light district in Mumbai, was the owner of many brothels in that area.

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Chandni Bar

The 2001 Hindi crime drama film Chandni Bar portrays the grim underworld of Mumbai, complete with prostitutes, dance clubs, and gun crime. Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, the multiple National Award winning film stars Tabu and Atul Kulkarni in lead roles along with Ananya Khare, Rajpal Yadav, Minakshi Sahani, and Vishal Thakkar in pivotal roles. The film narrates the story of Mumtaz (Tabu), an innocent young woman from a remote village whose family is murdered during riots. She moves to Mumbai with her uncle who persuades her to become a dancer at the Chandni Bar.