The Courtesans of Bombay (1983)

In the Mumbai, India, tenement community of Pavanpul, young female courtesans sing, dance and perform sexual favors for male clientele. Directors James Ivory and Ismail Merchant blend documentary footage and dramatic reenactments in their exploration of this seamy underworld, the flip side of the Bollywood film industry, where aspiring actors and dancers -- some even sold into prostitution by their own families -- end up, with their innocence lost and their hopes for movie stardom shattered.

Cast (3)CrewGenresDetailsReleasesMediaAwards

Saeed Jaffrey

K

Kareem Samar

Zohra Sehgal

Herself

If you liked The Courtesans of Bombay, you might also like…

92% match

McQueen

2018

89% match

Above Majestic

2018

87% match

Savage X Fenty Show

2019

78% match

Naqoyqatsi

2002

75% match

A Toxic Love Story

2026

75% match

To Kill a Tiger

2023

67% match

Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me

2023

65% match

Ex Libris: The New York Public Library

2017

61% match

Fuck

2006

60% match

Trainwreck: The Real Project X

2025

60% match

The Class of ‘92

2013

60% match

Directed by John Ford

1971

60% match

28 Up

1984

60% match

Come See Me in the Good Light

2025

60% match

The U.S. vs. John Lennon

2006

60% match

Terms and Conditions May Apply

2013

60% match

Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin

2003

60% match

Drew: The Man Behind the Poster

2013

60% match

My Mom Jayne

2025

60% match

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20

2022