Manisha Koirala Rules The Show – Heeramandi
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Manisha Koirala Rules The Show – Heeramandi

Manisha Koirala has always been a genuine person of interest for many people and these days she is the talks all because of the magnum opus of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. She is a royalty of Nepal and has always been the one who can mesmerise audiences since the days of Saudagar, her first debut in Bollywood. Manisha Koirala is the daughter of Prakash Koirala and the granddaughter of former Prime Minister of Nepal Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala. Even though she has a royal lineage, she wanted to be an actress in the Indian Film Industry and it is our great fortune that she has come back in front of the camera after a long time in a project like Heeramandi. Manisha Koirala: Early life in front of the camera: Starting her career with Saudagar, enacting the unforgettable’ Ilu ilu‘ in Hindi cinema, Manisha Koirala became the mystical girl of every man’s heart in the late 80’s and the 90’s. After that she had some remarkable movies throughout like Agni Sakshi, Lajja, Bombay, 1942 A love story, Khamoshi and many more. Her looks, style, her smile and presence in front of the camera captivated many for a very long time. Manisha Koirala and her timeout: After having a great success, she had a thundering downfall too! Alcohol and substance abuse were just the beginning of her career breakage. But in 2012, when we all thought that the world will come to an end, well Koirala’s world was coming to an end. She was diagnosed with 4th stage Ovarian Cancer and she gave her life a 360 degree change. She got herself cured with lot of treatments and reappeared in front of the media and camera with a bald and bold look. Manisha and Sanjay: She enacted in Khamoshi which was her first project with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The movie gave her a different identity as an actress and she proved that she can do anything. If you could see this scene you will realize what a versatile actress she has always been. And this collaboration took a very long time, and she came back again with SLB for Heeramandi! And yes, she came back with a BANG! She has delivered herself as Mallika Jaan in the most promising way and when done through the eyes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, you remain as the mark for that character. Mallika Jaan of Heeramandi: Mallika Jaan has taken away the hearts of all the viewers. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s dream-maker vision is Heeramandi, and Mallika Jaan is in charge of it. She not only rules the heart of Zulfikar Saahab but she commands every step and every movement of all the Tawaifs. Manisha Koirala did a lot of work on her diction of Urdu and she had to go through a lot of psychological changes while practicing for Heeramandi. Manisha’s looks were also picked out very carefully to define her as the Queen of all the Queens of Heeramandi. Her command in dialogue and her look defines Heeramandi series ravishingly! Have a look yourself. Manisha Koirala has earned all the rights for the hype that is being given out to her role as Mallika Jaan, hasn’t she? Mallika Jaan Looks from Heeramandi: Mallika Jaan had a very elaborate looks for the role, her jewellery and her costumes were designed authentically. 3 years were taken only to design the jewellery by Sri Paramani Jewels and they references were taken from British Raj India. Every maang tika, natni, jhoomar and necklaces were handcrafted.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Shri Paramani Jewels (@shriparamanijewels) The costumes were designed by Rimple and Harpreet and they worked day and night with teir crew to define every cast looks. But the diamond of heeramandi that needs to shine the brightest was Mallika Jaan and her ensembles were breathtaking. Also the entire cast of the Queens walked on the ramp for the designers. And it was nothing less than magical.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rimple & Harpreet (@rimpleandharpreet) All in all, Manisha rocked the role of Mallika Jaan and her entire fame after the Heeramandi release is well deserved! The workmanship of the sets of Shahi Mohalla, costumes, characters, jewellery gave a definition to the entire chapter of the grand Indian History of British raj India, it showed what people actually went through to get freedom for their country. How tawaifs got down on the roads and made it very clear that Britishers were not supposed to be there. Heeramandi is a defining chapter for charisma, cinematography, designing and conceptualization of imagination.  

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Heeramandi – A Hidden Chapter in British Raj History
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Heeramandi – A Hidden Chapter in British Raj History

Heeramandi is the name that we are all hearing on the internet. Thanks to the director of grandeur, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the name has been uncovered after many, many years. The series Heeramandi will air on Netflix from May 1st. It is a period-based series based on the real situation that occurred during the time of British Raj. It has been a misconception that Heeramandi was always the red-light area, which was known to be the central area of Lahore (then placed in ancient India under the British Raj). According to the documented history, Heeramandi bears Hira Singh’s name, the prime minister of the Sikh Kingdom of Lahore. After the invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali, many captured women were dumped in the areas as prostitutes. The area gradually changed from being a grain market to something else. Hidden Story of Heeramandi Now the question arises: why is this place away from the history notes or any mentions in of the Indian factual documents? Heeramandi was the name used all across the nation before and during the British Raj in India. The area, which was once known as Heeramandi, is among the most well-liked parts of Pakistan’s walled city of Lahore. The region gained notoriety in the 15th and 16th centuries as a major grain market and as the centre of undivided India’s tawaif (courtesan) culture. Tawaifs were never prostitutes; rather, they were the epitomes of learned music and dance forms and they were very well educated as well. Tawaifs were the only sect of women who were allowed to walk among the major leagues of men and were very powerful politically and economically. The most amazing part was that the women of Heeramandi played a major role in supporting the freedom fighters during the struggle for independence against the British Raj. Women from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were “introduced” to the region during the Mughal era, and courtesans were connected to dancing, singing, and other forms of culture. Later, the area became a centre of culture when ladies from the Indian subcontinent began travelling here to perform Kathak for the Mughals. Known by many as Shahi Mohalla or the Royal neighbourhood, the area was originally developed as a residential area for royal court attendants due to its proximity to the Lahore fort. However, courtesans quickly moved in. Heeramandi appears like any other ordinary marketplace during the day, offering food, juttis, musical instruments, etc., but at night it transforms into something entirely different. The women captured by the troops of Abdali were from surrounding regions and they were put up in Heeramandi. The area of Heeramandi became the major business area, and Heeramandi saw a further rampant rise during the British Raj. The unfortunate aspect of the Mughal era’s downfall was that foreign invasions ruined the imperial palace’s courtesan house. Prostitution increased as a result of this.  But when the partition was announced and the then-India was divided into two countries—India and Pakistan—Heeramandi was set to be one of the worst-affected regions. Women staying in the brothels in the region fled to India before the lines separating the countries were drawn, and the ones who stayed were exploited under the guise of the unrest in both regions. Heeramandi Series filled with diamonds of industry: The series Heeramandi is a star-studded venture. Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chaddha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal feature in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. According to the official series summary, “A young heir caught in the crosshairs of a power battle in Heeramandi chooses love over succession, upending the status quo.” The last link preserving the art of tawaifs (courtesans) is tested in pre-independence India against a developing liberation movement. The 14-year filmmaker’s passion project, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, is hailed as an epic tale of love, power, retribution, and freedom. produced by Prerna Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with Moin Beg credited with the idea

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