Anupria Goenka opens up on her character of sex worker in her Cannes market title 'Bombay Stories'
Mumbai, May 18
Actress Anupria Goenka, who is headed to the ongoing Cannes Film Festival 2026 with her film 'Bombay Stories', has shed light on her character of a sex worker in the film.
The film will be showcased at the prestigious Marche du Film (Cannes Film Market), and is directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi. The film is based on Saadat Hasan Manto's 'Hatak', a part of his seminal collection of short stories of the same name. It marks the actress' first independent film. The film explores the lives of sex workers through a satirical lens and it also features Mouni Roy and Sushmiita Singh.
Talking about the film, Anupria said, "I have always wanted to do independent cinema and I am so glad, I am portraying a character written by Manto, in my first. Hatak means insult and my story is about Saugandhi's journey navigating her own self through the society's scrutiny towards her".
Elaborating on the character she said, "Saugandhi being a sex worker has resigned to that life. But she craves love, appreciation, and the feeling of being made to feel like a woman by a man, and not just be treated like a sexual object. I found so much of me in her and explored so many other shades of me as a woman through Saugandhi".
"My belief is that as long as someone wants to sell their body and has the agency to do that, it's absolutely their choice. It's like any other profession. It becomes a sin and is abhorred when one is forced into the system against their choice, when they don't have any legal rights or are dehumanized and looked upon like objects. This then needs to be stopped at all costs. It also takes away the respect that the profession deserves, and through the film the team wants to shed light on the discrimination, sex workers face and mirror the reality of the society. We hope that the message gets across to everyone who watches the film", she added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Respect for casting sex workers as complex characters rather than just victims or villains. But I wish Indian society would have this conversation more openly at home too. The hypocrisy is real - we consume content about such lives but won't give them dignity in reality. Anupria's point about agency is crucial. Let's see if the satire lands well.
Manto's work is timeless, and I'm glad someone is adapting 'Hatak' for the screen. Saugandhi sounds like a layered character, not just a stereotype. We need more films that explore the humanity behind the profession without being preachy. Can't wait to see Anupria and Mouni Roy in this. Bohot exciting! 🎬
It's refreshing to see an actress speak openly about the agency argument. Too often, we moralize without understanding the socio-economic realities. But I hope the film doesn't romanticize a world that's brutal for many. The satire angle is interesting - maybe it will make us laugh at our own double standards. Let's give it a chance.
All this talk about 'choice' and 'agency' feels a bit privileged. For a vast majority of sex workers in India, it's about survival, not choice. Manto's story was set in a different era too. That said, I appreciate Anupria's intent to humanize the character. Just hope the filmmakers do real research and don't turn it into another exotic drama. Satire can be tricky when dealing with such pain.
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