Excited For Heeramandi? Watch 5 Movies On OTT That Shed Light On Lives Of Courtesans

Movies On OTT Based On Lives Of Courtesans: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to step into the world of OTT with his upcoming Netflix series 'Heeramandi'. Starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, and Richa Chaddha in the lead roles, 'Heeramandi' is set against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement in the 1940s and will focus on the lives of tawaifs. If you are looking forward to watching 'Heeramandi' on Netflix, then take a look at the list of movies with similar concepts available to watch on OTT platforms.

1. Pakeezah

'Pakeezah' revolves around a courtesan, Sahibjaan, who falls in love with Salim Ahmed Khan, a forest ranger. Her life takes a different turn when her relative and an obsessive patron try to keep these lovers away from each other. The movie stars Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Raaj Kumar in the lead roles. The movie is streaming on Netflix.

2. Devdas

'Devdas' is set in the 1900s in the pre-independence era. The movie revolves around Devdas, who is deeply in love with Paro but his wealthy family prohibits him from marrying her and his life turns destructive when he takes up alcohol to forget his pain. The movie stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit in the lead roles. It is streaming on JioCinema and Prime Video.

3. Mughal-E-Azam

'Mughal-E-Azam' revolves around Salim, an emperor's son, who falls in love with a courtesan named Anarkali. His father, the king, tries to break them apart despite seeing Salim and Anarkali's immense love for each other. The movie stars Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote in the lead roles. It is streaming on Zee5.

4. Umrao Jaan

'Umrao Jaan' revolves around Amiran, who is sold to a brothel by a corrupt cop. She grows up to become a renowned courtesan and falls in love with Nawab Sultan. The movie stars Rekha in the titular role with Farooq Shaikh, Naseerudin Shah and Raj Babbar in pivotal roles. The movie is available to stream for free on YouTube.

5. Gangubai Kathiawadi

'Gangubai Kathiawadi' revolves around a young woman, who is sold to a brothel but decides to take the narrative of her life into her own hands. She takes control of the brothel and uses the underworld connection to become powerful and help the women living in Kamathipura. The movie stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role with Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh and Ajay Devgn in pivotal roles. It is streaming on Netflix.