Rituparna Sengupta praises 'Heeramandi's splendor; expresses her desire to be a Bhansali heroine

Netizens have taken to social media after the release of the trailer for 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,' pointing out similarities between the Sanjay Leela Bhansali series and Srijit Mukherji's 2015 Bengali film 'Rajkahini.' The Bengali film, which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, depicted the lives of women in a brothel along the India-Bangladesh border during the Bengal Partition.Its Hindi remake, 'Begum Jaan,' starred Vidya Balan and was set against the backdrop of the Indian independence struggle.
Rituparna Sengupta, the lead actress of 'Rajkahini,' recently shared her thoughts on these comparisons in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha. She noted the numerous comparisons between 'Heeramandi' and 'Rajkahini,' acknowledging the similarities between the two. She emphasized that the stories are almost similar, with both stories set against the backdrop of revolution and the freedom struggle. Sengupta remarked that those comparisons likely watched 'Rajkahini' and remembered its storyline well.
Rituparna Sengupta highlighted a key difference between 'Rajkahini' and the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial. She said that 'Heeramandi' is more commercial in its approach. Sengupta noted Bhansali's unparalleled style of presentation, known for its grandeur and splendor, while acknowledging that 'Rajkahini' aimed for a different tone. She mentioned that despite not possessing the same level, the cast of 'Rajkahini' put their all into their characters.
According to the National Award winner, her film planted a seed that greatly influenced Bhansali and left her thrilled. She explains that 'Rajkahini' marked a significant emergence of regional cinema, challenging other films as well. Sengupta noticed similarities between 'Rajkahini' and 'Gangubai Kathiawadi,' including certain shots and postures of Alia Bhatt resembling those in her film. She believes 'Rajkahini' served as inspiration for many other films exploring the subject of brothel life and can be seen as valuable research material. Sengupta asserts that 'Rajkahini' set an example for series like 'Heeramandi.'