Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Heeramandi: ‘There’s so much love that I received from Pakistan’

In Pic: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is a series that has grabbed more headlines than many actors' entire careers. Released on May 1, the OTT series is set in pre-independence Punjab, which is in modern-day Pakistan.

Regarding the love he is receiving from the neighboring country, in an interview with Indiewire, Sanjay Leela Bhansali shared, "There was so much love that I received from Pakistan, people waiting for it anxiously, waiting for this to be told. It's a piece that somehow brings us all together, when all India was one, it was undivided. These people belong to us as much as they belong to them. I think they belong to both of us and both countries are showing a lot of love for finally the show being made. I still feel we're all one, I still feel that we're all connected in so many ways. There's a lot of love for people on both sides, leave aside a few people would want to create issues - but those are not relevant."

When asked about the setting of the series, the ace filmmaker said, "There are things in the characters that connect to people in my work. That is why they talk about it. A lot of people like it, a lot of people don't like it. It's a part of a give-and-take with an audience and filmmaker. I don't mind being loved when they give me love, and I don't mind quite being criticized when they don't connect to my work."

About 'Heeramandi':

The star-studded cast of the series also includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Shekhar Suman, and Fardeen Khan. ‘Heeramandi' is streaming on Netflix from May 1.

Midday's Review of 'Heeramandi':

Midday has given 3 stars to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' . A part of our review reads "The series is both overwhelming and sumptuous. It's a lot of things, mostly a slew of sub-plots. Depending on who you are, one of the many stories here will stay with you."