Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s debut web series `Heeramandi` narrates the story of courtesans of the pre-independent India. While the series is already being praised for its grand world building, previous films based on courtesans have also focused on building a grand world while portraying the inner turmoil of courtesans.
From Mughal-e-Azam to Gangubai Kathiawadi, different filmmakers took different approach to portray courtesan life in movies.