These actors were Sanjay Leela Bhansali's original picks for 'Heeramandi'
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, is finally landing on Netflix on Wednesday. The period drama boasts a stellar cast including Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sonakshi Sinha. However, Bhansali fans might be surprised to learn that this wasn't his original cast choice. Rather, he had envisioned the project as a film featuring Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Rani Mukerji.
'This was 18 years ago...'
At the recent Los Angeles premiere, Bhansali mentioned that the concept of Heeramandi has lingered in his mind for 18 years. However, due to the expansive nature of the story, the film never came to fruition. "This was 18 years ago so at one point it was Rekha ji, Kareena, and Rani Mukerji. Then it changed into another cast," he said in the interview. He further revealed, "This was my idea when Heeramandi was originally supposed to be a film."
When Bhansali considered casting these Pakistani actors
Further, the filmmaker mentioned that he once considered casting Pakistani actors like Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Imran Abbas in the series, but "then it all changed." Abbas, in a previous conversation with ARY's Shan-e-Suhoor, mentioned being offered a role in Bhansali's show, stating, "I did not refuse that, but it was shelved at the time." Abbas also mentioned being offered Aditya Roy Kapur's role in Guzaarish.
'Heeramandi's production spanned nearly three years
Meanwhile, talking about its grand scale, Bhansali shared that the production of Heeramandi took nearly three years and required over 300 days of shooting. Earlier, in a separate interview with Architectural Digest, Bhansali described the web series as his "biggest set ever," spanning a massive three acres. The project involved the labor of 700 craftsmen and utilized approximately "60,000 wooden planks and metal frames."
Know more about 'Heeramandi'
Centered on the backdrop of the Indian independence movement in the 1940s, Heeramandi delves into the stories of tawaifs residing in Lahore's red-light district, Heera Mandi. Alongside the female cast, the series features male talents including Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, Taha Shah Badussha, and Adhyayan Suman. Post its release, Bhansali will focus on his forthcoming film venture, Love & War. This new venture features Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal.
