Original subtitles

You're moving around too much and not massaging my feet enough.

Pardon me, Aapa.

You look as delicate as glass,

but you're as tough as nails.

-What? -I sold off your baby...

but you didn't break.

You bitch,

you can't satisfy your own sahab,

and want to get in bed with my Zulfikar.

Don't you forget,

you are not even fit to wear my hand-me-downs.

Zulfikar sahab and I have been together for a long time.

God knows, who is wearing whose hand-me-downs?

That baby is Zulfikar sahab's?

Well, that's good.

This attitude of yours will come in handy where I'm sending you.

In the blink of an eye

you'll be reduced from a tawaif to a whore.

There'll be so many men

that you'll lose count.

By the way, how high can you count?

I'll tell you.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

-Rehana, where... -Ten.

Eleven.

Twelve.

What have you done?

I killed Rehana aapa

before she could kill me.

Have you lost your mind?

She'd found out about us.

You are with me, right?

Mallika, you have committed a murder.

She took away my child, my Imaad.

I didn't commit a murder,

I just punished her.

Are you with me?

What are you thinking?

Zulfikar, let's get out of here.

Zulfikar, please leave.

-How will you handle all this? -I'll manage.

-What will you tell everyone? -Please go.

-What will you say? -Let's go.

-Keep me informed. -Leave before anyone sees you.

I'll be worried about you.

Aapa!

Satto! Phatto! Look what has happened!

Rehana aapa has killed herself!

Aapa, look, my ammi...

What happened to my ammi?

Fareedan, let's go.

Fareedan. Let's go.

She killed herself!

Aapa!

How many times do I say this?

Rehana aapa killed herself. I'm innocent.

If you're done with your pointless queries,

get a hookah for the Madam of Shahi Mahal.

You will get your hookah when you confess.

Confess what, Mr. Burston?

Zulfikar sahab, you're here. I knew that you would...

Nawab Zulfikar, please sit.

I've been expecting you.

Let her go.

In this file here, I have incriminating evidence against your mistress and you.

Should I keep it closed or should I...

If Rehana did hang herself, how come we didn't find any tables or chairs?

We even have fingerprints.

Here you go.

You are innocent.

We are innocent.

Attention, everyone!

Curfew has been imposed in the city.

If four people are seen outside together,

they will be arrested then and there.

Hey, what are you doing here?

We are just leaving, sir.

-You two as well. Move. -We were just leaving.

If four people are seen outside together, they will be arrested then and there.

Attention, everyone!

Curfew has been imposed in the city.

If four people are seen outside together,

they will be arrested then and there.

Attention...

Come on, Alam.

Alamzeb, where are you lost?

Are you thinking about that man you met at the recital?

Are you in love?

-Alamzeb. Saima. -Yes.

Are you both ready? Oh, my!

Damn the power cut!

You know, I almost fed my nose in the dark!

Stop laughing, silly girls. Hurry up, we have to go to Khwabgah.

It's Rehana madam's death anniversary. Come on.

Everyone has already left. We are the only ones left. Hurry.

Alamzeb! Hurry up, my dear.

Madam, watch your step. It's dark.

A woman doesn't even apply perfume as much as the British impose curfews.

Just a little chaos,

they declare a curfew, and the power goes.

The power is always out on Rehana aapa's death anniversary.

Even the angels blow their fuse on seeing her soul!

Electricity is no match!

Aapa...

Is it true that Rehana khala's soul lives here in Khwabgah?

A woman's soul is trapped in love, not in mansions.

Nawab Sammi Ali had gifted Khwabgah to Rehana khalajaan, with a lot of love.

-Oh, God! -What happened?

-Someone just pushed me. -Who?

I told you, her soul is still here!

Shut up, you fools!

We are here for the death anniversary, not for fun.

Come on. Recite the prayers.

The Almighty must be tired of hearing me curse.

Nonetheless, I continue to pray that your soul never rests in peace. Amen.

Amen.

If everybody is done praying, we can leave.

Yes, Madam.

Madam.

I'll stay here from now on.

So, before you leave... the keys?

How can I give them to you?

The matter is in court.

Sammi sahab's widow too has laid a claim to this mansion.

So what?

Keys.

Once the court rules in our favor, I'll give you the keys.

That's what you promised last year too.

But you only make promises to forget, not to fulfill!

Even a witch casts curses seven houses away,

-but you are attacking your own house! -You are crossing your limits, Khalajaan.

That's because I have limits, while you and your ammi have none!

-You are just... -Bibbo!

Both of you have robbed me of my happiness.

You can't bear to see me happy!

No matter what you do, Mallikajaan,

I will take the keys from you!

I will become the madam, me!

And you won't be able to do a thing!

Oh, Lord. The way these sisters fight makes my head ache.

Thank God, I am madam's servant.

Had I been her sister, she'd have fought with me too.

But whom does Khwabgah belong to?

Is it Waheeda's or madam's?

Neither.

It belongs to Rehana aapa's daughter, Fareedan.

What madam did to Fareedan wasn't right.

Poor thing was thrown out of her own home.

-But why? -What do you mean, why?

If she were here, she would've claimed her right,

asked for Khwabgah... would've become the Madam!

Is she alive?

My heart says that she is alive and that she will come back.

And when she comes, it'll be fun to watch.

She'll tear down Shahi Mahal, brick by brick.

How will she tear it down?

The way Mallikajaan killed the mother, she will kill the daughter too.

Satto bi, stop talking rubbish.

Have some respect for madam.

Exactly, Satto, you are too much!

Why'd you get another wife...

I shine bright like the moon Why would you get another wife, my love?

I shine bright like the moon Why would you get another wife, my love?

Greetings, Lajjo Aapa.

Greetings. Greetings, Bibbojaan.

-Well, Aapa. I was saying... -How do I look?

Tell me.

Now what do I say.

I had come to borrow this sari from you...

No. I won't be able to give you this sari.

This sari is a gift from Zorawar. It's imported georgette.

He says that I look like an English lady whenever I wear it.

Miss Lajjo. Miss Lajjo.

Miss Lajjo.

He truly loves me a lot.

Do you know what he gifted me?

This precious Iranian emerald.

What else did he give you?

And these earrings!

-I see, and? -And...

Last week, he even got an airplane for me.

Oh, Lord! An airplane?

How many people will fit in it?

Lajjo Aapa...

how long will you keep lying to yourself?

This sari wasn't gifted to you by Zorawar sahab,

Ammi gifted it to you. And I gave you these earrings.

If a little lie soothes my heart, you could have let it.

Why do you have to nitpick?

I am not nitpicking, I worry about you.

You are drunk the entire day

and spend hours sitting alone in the café.

Not alone, with Zorawar.

Zorawar doesn't come.

Wali sahab said that he's having an affair with a noblewoman. You better forget him.

Find another sahab for yourself.

Only a tawaif like you can say something so lowly.

My love is not for sale.

-I am going. -Where?

To meet Zorawar, where else?

Lajjo Aapa!

Bibbojaan, Mallikajaan.

Where's Jannat-e-Firdaus, Jumman miyan? We asked for four bottles.

Take two for now. I'll send the rest on Friday.

Don't forget, okay? Or else I'll be done for.

Don't worry.

A fabulous perfume just arrived. I'll show you.

Taufeeq, show her the new perfume.

-Sure. -Okay, sure.

-Welcome, Nawab sahab. Greetings. -As-salaam alaikum, sir.

Do you recognize this fragrance?

Jannat-e-Firdaus. It's from my shop.

You recognize the fragrance, what about the handkerchief?

I think this belongs to a beautiful lady.

How do you know?

Well, you wouldn't fall for someone who looks like me.

By the way, this lady's name starts with a "T."

Not the lady, the lover boy's name.

Poor boy is pining away, please help him complete his love story.

Tell him where can he find this lady.

You might find her on any street of Lahore.

The noblewomen as well as the tawaifs, all use this perfume.

It's a long list. Where do I even begin!

What... What happened? Sir! Nawab sahab!

Why did you steal the handkerchief, Bibi?

I'm not stealing it, I'm taking it back.

It belongs to my bibi.

And if this gentleman comes back, don't tell them where we live.

I am loyal to Shahi Mahal.

I wouldn't share my own address with them, let alone yours.

I see nothing

Except for you

And who is this "you"?

The one I think I've lost my heart to.

And handkerchief too.

Hey, I've been looking for this.

-Where did you find it? -With that same gentleman.

He was at the perfumery, asking for your whereabouts.

-Curly hair... -Yes.

-Wheatish complexion... -Yes.

-Deep eyes. -Yes.

-Did you see him? -Yes.

Oh, bless your eyes!

Alamzeb, stop being lovesick.

If madam finds out, she'll kill you.

Love does not fear death

True love remains beyond death

Rubbish! May your enemies die.

Well, here. Keep your handkerchief.

I had embroidered it with such effort, but your mister ruined it all.

By putting his "T" there.

It means, his name starts with "T."

T for Tahir, T for Tauseef, T for Turaab,

T for Turaaz, T for Taj...

T for Tajdar?

Tajdar... Alamzeb...

Alamzeb...

Tajdar...

Ammi!

Aapa! Call me Aapa!

I won't repeat myself.

If such a grown girl calls me ammi,

no one will desire me anymore.

Are you jealous of my beauty, my youth...

Ammi?

Khalajaan.

What are you doing?

If madam finds out that you were tying your daughter's breasts...

She is my daughter.

I'll do as I wish.

She is your only child.

At least keep her close to your heart.

If she had a heart, maybe she would hold me close.

She's a vicious woman.

Whenever she opens her mouth, she only spews poison.

Khalajaan.

Binding her breasts won't bind her dreams.

To tolerate injustice is as much a sin as committing it, Shama.

Don't be afraid. I'll surely talk to madam. Okay?

No, Aapa.

This is my war.

I will fight it myself.

Saba darling, I swear I haven't been to Heeramandi in two months.

Make her understand.

I promise, I won't touch any woman from Heeramandi ever again!

-One more thing... -Please.

I will say "I do" at the wedding

only when that Russian diamond is in my hand.

Madam, I've already placed an order for 25-carats.

I'll even...

Lajjo, why are you here?

What do you mean, why am I here?

I can't live without seeing you.

Why haven't you come all these nights?

-I was about to come... -Then what?

-And then... -Bibbojaan was right.

You are having an affair with this lady, right?

Let me take a look.

I am not having an affair.

Saba Rehmani is my wife-to-be and I am going to marry her.

In that case, we'll also get married. We... We...

We are going to get married.

It'll be the first time that one nawab will have two brides.

Where will we go for the honeymoon?

London? Paris?

Let's talk outside, okay? Let's talk outside.

Congratulations to you, Saba!

Come. Come.

When's our wedding?

Ustaadji will inform you about that. Don't worry.

-I have to make a lot of arrangements. -Of course. Please do.

I can't wear the same bridal outfit as her.

-Sure, come. Whatever you wish. -Will we travel in an airplane?

What sort of a joke is this? Zorawar?

Zorawar!

Zorawar bhai, all well?

All is well. What about you?

Zorawar!

But... Zorawar!

Saba.

I'm sorry about this. These women from Heeramandi are strange.

-She is drunk and talking rubbish. -Zorawar!

Zorawar!

How beautiful does she look!

So, can I take off this jewelry?

Let me look at you a little longer.

You'll now be wearing all this jewelry on your debut.

I do not want to make a debut.

Jewelry worth five lakhs and attitude... worth ten lakhs!

Uttam Kashi, show us if you have anything else.

Sure, Madam. Here.

A diamond from the Russian mines.

It will add the final touch to her beauty.

This one is the real dazzler.

That's already sold. I just have to deliver it.

-Who's the buyer? -Nawab Zorawar.

For his wife-to-be.

Nawab sahab is getting married and he didn't tell you?

Ustaadji was here with the invitation

to perform at the wedding.

You will perform at the wedding? It'll be humiliating for you.

Let her go, Bibbo.

Now that her heart has been broken

she has become a true tawaif.

No, Ammijaan.

I will perform at the wedding, not Lajjo aapa.

Why are you so envious of me?

My sahab, my co-wife, and you get to perform?

Not at all.

I'll go there so splendidly bedecked...

that Qazi sahab will be forced to ask me,

"Lajwanti,

are you willing to accept Zorawar sahab as your groom?"

"I do."

You are skilled, Uttam Kashi.

You wanted to pass of a petty rock

as the pride of Shahi Mahal.

We have a tradition here.

A tawaif never wears a bridal veil, or cheap diamonds.

-Zorawar! -Saif Siddiqui!

-Congratulations on your wedding. -Alhamdulillah.

What a shot, my brother!

I am very happy today. You did get married after all.

This marks the end of your wayward ways.

Have nawabs ever given up their wayward ways?

Bhaijaan, Lajjojaan is here. What do we do?

-Bring her in. -Yes, bhaijaan.

Friends, let the celebrations begin!

Sure!

Come.

-Come, come. -Let's go.

You have called Lajjojaan to perform tonight,

hope she doesn't create a scene here.

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

Oh, Lord

Go ahead

And marry me off to grief

Marry me off to grief

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

And break my heart

My innocent heart...

My innocent heart...

You're held in high repute

High repute

High repute

While I'm draped in disrepute

While I'm draped in disrepute

Go ahead and reject me

Reject me

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

And break my heart

Go ahead

And marry me off to grief

Marry me off to grief

Go ahead

And break my heart

My...

Lajjo,

you are aware

Heeramandi has a tradition

that no tawaif can leave without completing their performance.

Go.

Finish your performance.

Go!

There was a time when

even if nawabs didn't empathize with us,

they would applaud our performance for sure.

Anyway.

I have raised her since she was six.

And her mistakes show that I haven't raised her well.

And she has committed the most grievous mistake.

The mistake of falling in love, despite being a tawaif.

I am here to apologize for her mistake, Nawab sahab.

You are forgiven.

You may leave.

I apologized for her mistake.

Now once you apologize to her for your insolence,

we will leave.

You want me to apologize to a tawaif?

She should consider my insolence as a favor.

She isn't good enough to enter my mansion, but I allowed her into my bed.

She is fortunate

that I slapped her.

Nawab Zorawar Ali Khan's rebukes

fall only on the lucky ones, Mallikajaan.

You are ill-mannered and badly behaved.

You are bereft of anything noble.

You humiliated her in front of everyone...

You're the one who has brought humiliation to her.

Nothing is more humiliating than being raised in Heeramandi!

There is... being born there...

Something you are destined with...

Know your place, tawaif!

Qutubuddin!

Will you show him his place or should I?

I request you, Mallikajaan.

It's a happy occasion. Please don't say anything.

I have been quiet for 26 years.

Not anymore.

You're very proud of your lineage, aren't you, Zorawar?

Then listen.

You are lowborn.

Your lineage traces back to a brothel.

Your blood is that of a tawaif.

You are the illegitimate child of tawaif Mallikajaan.

Mallikajaan!

A real man always looks at women respectfully.

But you raised your hand.

You have dared to question my lineage.

What proof do you have that I am your child?

Go and ask your abbujaan for the proof.

Ask your ammijaan for the proof

of how Qutubuddin took away my infant son

from me 26 years ago.

There hasn't been a single night

when I didn't cry thinking of you.

All these years, I grieved over the loss of a son.

And now, I'll grieve the fact that you are my son!

Lajjo.

I value your love.

Look at him all you want one last time.

You've had too much to drink.

Iqbal, drive carefully!

-Sorry, Madam. -Lajjo, are you okay?

Lajjo.

Lajjo.

Lajjo?

Lajjo...

Iqbal! Iqbal, drive faster.

What happened, Madam?

Lajjo is dead.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah And Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

There is none worthy of worship but Allah And Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

There is none worthy of worship but Allah And Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

God is Great, God is Great

I bear witness that there is none worthy Of worship but Allah...

This is how a tawaif's love story ends.

Waheeda, you've forgotten that ring.

Okay.

It's almost dawn.

Shall we give her a bath?

It's time to bid her goodbye, Aapa.

Yes.

You don't bid goodbye to a tawaif, you set her free.

People fight and gain their freedom, a tawaif gets freedom... in death.

And we don't mourn freedom,

we celebrate it.

Congratulations on your freedom, Lajjo.

Congratulations on your freedom, Lajjo.

We ask for freedom

No matter what, we want to be set free

We ask for freedom

No matter what, we want to be set free

We ask for freedom

No matter what, we want to be set free

We ask for freedom

We ask for freedom

No matter what, we want to be set free

We ask for freedom

My condolences.

Recognize me?

The spitting image of Rehana aapa.

Same eyes, same face.

My Fareedan.

Yes... your Fareedan.

What brings you here?

Just childhood memories.

So I came over.

I was only nine when you sold me off.

Even after all these years, my hatred for you has led me back to this doorstep.

That was Shahi Mahal's doorstep.

This is Shahi Mahal's wall.

You managed to cross the doorstep,

but you won't be able to cross the wall.

Old walls are not meant to be crossed.

They are meant to be torn down.

-Fareedan, this is not the time for... -This is my ammi's ring.

She'd wear it all the time.

There's a lot I have to take back from you.

Let me start with this.

I'm here for a funeral,

I'll ensure that the next one is because of me.

That's a promise.

Subtitle translation by Monika Saraf