MUMBAI:  Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's eagerly awaited series, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar," which premiered on Netflix on May 1, delves into the lives of courtesans in Lahore's red-light district during India's struggle for independence from British rule has garnered mixed reactions from both audiences and critics. Known for his grand storytelling, elaborate sets, and meticulous attention to detail, Bhansali faced significant criticism from a former journalist who highlighted numerous errors and major blunders in "Heeramandi."

Veteran journalist Pervaiz Alam, formerly of BBC Hindi and BBC World, took to Twitter to point out historical inaccuracies that undermined the narrative's authenticity. He shared a screengrab from a scene in the series where Sonakshi Sinha's character, Fareedan, is shown reading a newspaper with headlines about contemporary events like the Warangal Municipal Elections and mask distribution by the Youth Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic—events that obviously did not occur in the 1920s.

Alam tweeted, "Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic web series Heeramandi on Netflix is set against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement and British Raj in Lahore during the 1920s-1940s. Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha) is depicted reading an Urdu newspaper (EP5). Headlines say, ‘Warangal Municipal Elections: TRS Distributes Tickets,’ ‘The Launch of a Scheme to Distribute 50,000 Masks by Youth Congress.’” He also noted that the newspaper's masthead, Tez Hawa, appeared in reverse, a practice not common at the time.

Many social media users have also criticized Bhansali for misrepresenting the true essence of Heeramandi and distorting history. Critics argue that the costumes and jewellery worn by the actors were too extravagant and luxurious, far beyond the means of the real courtesans of historical Heeramandi. The eight-part series is set in Lahore during the pre-independence era and chronicles the lives of courtesans who once held significant influence in the province. Apart from Sonakshi Sinha the cast includes Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shekhar Suman, Fardeen Khan and others.