Heeramandi Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali Says Fans In Pakistan Were ‘Anxiously’ Waiting For The Series

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who made his digital debut with the Netflix series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, opened up about the love coming from Pakistan.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is getting praises from all quarters.

Source : Instagram (netflix_in)

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who made his digital debut with the Netflix series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, is getting praises from all quarters for his latest offering. In an interview with Indiewire, the filmmaker talked about the show based on Tawaifs dwelling in the city of Lahore during the pre-independence era. The Indian director also opened up about the love coming from Pakistan for the show ‘Heeramandi’. 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali talks about Pakistani fans' reaction to Heeramandi 

While talking about the new series in the interview, Bhansali said, "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.”

Bhansali, who is regarded as one of the best Indian filmmakers, shared his response to critical feedback from the audience.

"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,” he said.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar review

The ABP Live review of the series reads: Behind the shiny garb of grace and pose, 'Heeramandi' chronicles the trials and tribulations of the nautch girls. Even though the sets might keep reminding you of Bhansali’s other works, the series stands out in quite a few ways. The performance-heavy series delves into the agency of women in the red-light area and their contributions to the freedom movement. Unfortunately, the director himself distracts the viewers from the very core of the script and keeps his lens focused more on the star-crossed lovers Alamzeb, Mallikajaan’s youngest daughter, and Tajdar, a young Nawab. Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal), who lives in her dreamy world far from her own reality, bumps into Tajdar (played by Taha Shah Badussha), a rebellious lawyer.

About Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom movement of the 1940s. It tells the story of courtesans of Lahore and their longing for love and freedom. The series stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Fardeen Khan, among others. The show dropped on Netflix on May 1.