We never promised a history lesson: Sonakshi Sinha hits back at ‘Heeramandi’ critics

Actor defended historical inaccuracies, calling out viewers enjoying Western period dramas without complaint

With Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s glamourous epic Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar having racked up 4.5 million views since its May 1 release, it is all but inevitable that not all of those viewers would leave glowing reviews. The complaints on social media have ranged from commenters tearing to pieces Bhansali’s glorified depiction of Lahore’s red-light district, to being appalled at the Urdu spoken by the characters. 

Actor Sonakshi Sinha, who brought to life Heeramandi's chief courtesan Fareedan Jahan, has no tolerance for anyone slamming the show for its historical inaccuracies. According to The Indian Express, the actor took to an interview to vent her frustration at viewers dissecting the show for a deeper meaning. 

“When did we ever promise a history lesson?” demanded Sinha. “There are inspirations derived from places. Yes, Heeramandi is a place which exists in Lahore, but we never told you that we are going into the history of it.”

Imploring audiences to bear in mind the pure entertainment value of the show, the actor defended filmmaker Bhansali’s famed skillset at world-building. “Bhansali is an artist, and he's creating a world for you,” she reminded fans. “In no way is he trying to be realistic. He’s selling you a dream and a vision, and that is what he’s known for. Every filmmaker has his own style, and this is his.”

Sinha went on to call out the audience’s double standards for seemingly lapping up Bridgerton, another Netflix period drama, without complaint. “These are the same people who love Bridgerton, even though it depicts a very fictionalised version of what life was like back then,” she pointed out. “I think they should treat Heeramandi the same way.” 

With the heavily promoted Heeramandi being Bhansali’s first foray into Netflix, the show promised to enthral audiences from the outset. Living up to expectations, the Indian period drama debuted at the number two spot on the platform’s weekly top 10 list for non-English language shows, surpassing several recent international titles. So far, it has garnered 4.5 million views, with 33 million accumulated viewership hours.

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