Heeramandi series: The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Netflix series ‘Heeramandi’ is one of the most-awaited projects of 2024. The upcoming period drama focuses on the lives of tawaifs (courtesans) in Lahore during the pre-independence era. Makers have dropped a few glimpses of the show through pictures, songs, and a trailer. Besides the stellar ensemble cast that involves Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal.
However, much like all of Bhansali’s films, 'Heeramandi' has also captivated the viewers with the spectacular set that is every bit of royalty. When it comes to production design, the drama series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ aptly captures the essence of the era. The director has set up a three-acre set for the ‘Heeramandi’ series.
Heeramandi: Sanjay Leela Bhansali talks about his 'biggest ever'
In an exclusive conversation with Architectural Digest, Sanjay Leela Bhansali shared interesting details about his picks when deciding on large sets. The filmmaker said, “Because I have always wanted to be lost. This is the biggest set I have made in my life.”
Bhansali said in the interview that when the set was completed, it turned into the Shahi Mahal (royal palace) of Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala), the queen of the most influential brothel in Heera Mandi. And a team of 700 artisans worked for seven months in Mumbai's Film City to set up the place on roughly 60,000 timber boards and metal frames.
“I would ever be able to push as a child which I thought it was. So I feel I have started enjoying and understanding more and more as my filmmaking has progressed. I have started enjoying creating walls at a distance and further and further. But I never want to dictate. I feel I have set it. The audience will find what they want to see. A lot of time people have criticised that we have so much to see that for the first time we miss the essence of the scene,” the director added.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali says Heeramandi is more grand than any of his films
The 'Heeramandi' set also includes the Khwabgaah, quarters of Fareedan, another courtesan played by Sonakshi Sinha. The place encompasses a white mosque, smaller kothas, and also a hammam room.
Heeramandi's set is a unique township that Bhansali envisioned and conceptualised for eighteen years. The set is the universe and home of the characters he has crafted in the story. “When there are characters I love a lot, I create special spaces for them,” says Bhansali.
“You can’t just make a set and place your characters in it. No, it doesn’t work that way. Architecture plays a very important role in frame-making and filmmaking,” the director added during the chat.
Previously, Sanjay Leela Bhansali built a world of grandeur in his films, including 'Devdas' (2002), 'Bajirao Mastani' (2015), and 'Padmaavat' (2018), but 'Heeramandi' might surpass all of his previous works.
‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is an eight-part series that is slated to release across 190 countries on Netflix on May 1.