Mughal-e-Azam is a 1960 Indian epic historical drama film produced and directed by K. Asif. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote, it follows the love affair between Mughal Prince Salim (who went on to become Emperor Jahangir) and Anarkali, a court dancer. The film is widely considered to be a milestone for its genre. Film scholars have welcomed its portrayal of enduring themes, but questioned its historical accuracy. It was the most expensive Indian film made until then

Released in 1981, Umrao Jaan is one of the most popular films in the courtesan genre. The film starring Rekha follows the story of a young girl kidnapped and sold to a brothel in Lucknow where she is trained to be a courtesan

From soulful music and dance performance, the movie is a Hindi cinema classic . Set in the backdrop of the British colonial era, it takes a rather subtle approach of debasement

Pakeezah is a 1972 musical romantic drama written, directed, and produced by Kamal Amrohi. The film stars Meena Kumari as the lead, alongside Ashok Kumar and Raaj Kumar. The film is considered to be a milestone of the Muslim social genre. Initally, the film was criticised for its extravagance, with time the reception turned more favourable. The film earned widespread praise for its luxurious, sophisticated sets and costumes

Devdas is a 2002 period romantic drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles

The film narrates the story of Devdas Mukherjee (Khan), a wealthy law graduate who returns from London to marry his childhood friend, Parvati "Paro". However, the rejection of their marriage by his own family sparks his descent into alcoholism, ultimately leading to his emotional deterioration and him seeking refuge with the golden-hearted courtesan Chandramukhi 

This is a biographical crime drama directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Alia Bhatt in the lead

It portrays the journey of Gangu from a teenager who lands at a brothel in Mumbai and how she climbs her way up to the top and becomes a leader of the masses

Begum Jaan is a 2017 Indian Hindi period drama film. It is directed and co-written by National Film Award-winning director Srijit Mukherji

The film narrates the story of a brothel built at the India Pakistan border and how these group of women get affected during the partition

Kalank is a 2019 period romantic drama film directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Karan Johar. Set in the pre-independence British era, the film stars an ensemble cast of Madhuri Dixit, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sanjay Dutt

While the film's central plot does not revolve around courtesans, Madhuri Dixit as Bahar Begum, the owner of a courtesan plays a pivotal role in the narrative. She lives in the part of the town that is not considered a good place for women of good family to visit. Despite that, protagonist Alia Bhatt sees the beauty in that part of the town and the creative forces there

Currently, all eyes are eagerly awaiting to witness the magical world created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Heeramandi

Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, 'Heeramandi' promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. It will start streaming on Netflix from May 1