‘Rekha, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukerji were my first choices for Heeramandi’: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Rekha, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukerji Pic/Instagram

Netflix hosted a special screening and interaction with ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' creator, director, and producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The series was showcased at the historic theatre, The Egyptian in Los Angeles. The evening began with opening remarks from Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, followed by a screening of the first episode and a lighthearted interaction moderated by Lilly Singh. Notable attendees included Rushi Kota, Punam Patel, Nisha Ganatra, Joya Kazi, Tesher, Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, Kevin Kreider, and many more.

During the rendezvous, Bhansali revealed that his first approach for this project was to be made into a film featuring Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Rani Mukerji. He then moved on to Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, and actors like Imran Abbas, and Fawad Khan. Things however changed and fast forward to 2024 the actors involved in the project are Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman.

Watch the video below.

"Rekha, Kareena and Rani were my first choices for Heeramandi." - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
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Reflecting on the project's journey, Bhansali revealed, "The script for Heeramandi was charming, vast, and epic. The story was too long for a film, and I had the concept 18 years ago, but there were no OTT platforms then. I finally saw an opportunity to do it properly on an OTT platform, where you can develop it and enjoy each character. This story has taken the longest - 18 years of nurturing, cherishing, and living it."

Bhansali continued "Working with Netflix on my first series was a completely different experience. In 30 years of my career, I have never met producers as beautiful as them. They are tough, and relentless, and ask for honest directors to create content with the same passion. It's good karma as a filmmaker to meet such producers, and I'm grateful to them."

‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is his first-ever series premiering globally on May 1 only on Netflix. Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, the show promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi, offering a compelling narrative that is sure to enthral audiences worldwide.