The 2013 Hindi film Rajjo , directed by Vishwas Patil, attempts to resurrect the "courtesan" genre—a once-beloved staple of Indian cinema that romanticized and explored the lives of nautch girls. Set against the backdrop of the decaying kothas in Mumbai’s Nagpada district, the film follows the journey of Rajjo (Kangana Ranaut), a talented dancer caught in the crosshairs of redevelopment and social stigma. While the film aims to be a social commentary on the marginalization of women in the sex trade, it ultimately serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in modernizing classical cinematic tropes.

The story centers on an unlikely romance between Rajjo and Chandu (Paras Arora), a 21-year-old Brahmin boy from a respectable family. Their meeting occurs during a visit to the red-light district to celebrate a cricket victory, where Chandu is instantly mesmerized by Rajjo’s mujra. The narrative follows their struggle to gain social acceptance as they marry against all odds, fleeing the control of Begum (Mahesh Manjrekar), a foul-mouthed eunuch madam, and Hande Bhau (Prakash Raj), a predatory politician with eyes on Rajjo.