Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Working on 'Heeramandi' was exhausting— an incredibly satisfying experience

Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) A year ago, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" made its grand debut on Netflix.
A year since its grand debut,
Heeramandi
: The Diamond Bazaar, starring
Manisha Koirala
,
Sonakshi Sinha
, Richa Chadha,
Aditi Rao Hydari
, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal, remains a benchmark in Indian OTT storytelling—both for its cinematic scale and the depth of its character-driven drama. At the heart of this ambitious
Netflix series
is master filmmaker
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
, known for turning every frame into visual poetry. In this candid conversation, Bhansali looks back on the intense creative journey that went into crafting
Heeramandi
, a project that not only expanded the boundaries of episodic storytelling but also offered career-defining roles to its ensemble cast.
How do you look back on the
Heeramandi
experience?
Exhausting—but incredibly satisfying. Each episode was conceived as a complete film, not just part of a series. That's why so many viewers return to individual episodes; each one stands alone as a distinct emotional and visual experience.
The casting was crucial to the success of
Heeramandi
, wasn't it?
Absolutely! One wrong casting choice could have collapsed the entire structure. Fortunately, I got exactly the actors I envisioned. Every performer fits their role perfectly. The women—Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal—were not just playing parts; they became the soul of
Heeramandi
. And the male cast was equally committed. Their dedication made this world come alive.
Manisha Koirala described
Heeramandi
as her second innings. Do you agree?
I hope so. She is absolutely breathtaking as Mallikajan. I began my career with her in
Khamoshi: The Musical
, where she was fabulous. In
Heeramandi
, she worked extremely hard—on her diction, posture, and presence. She brought an unmatched gravitas to the role.
If given a chance, would you change anything about
Heeramandi
?
Not a single shot. I stand by every frame. Each of the eight episodes felt like making a feature film. For me, creativity is a constant challenge I pose to myself. I may not always achieve perfection, but the pursuit of it gives my work meaning.
How do you respond when people call
Heeramandi
the best Indian series on OTT?
I'm deeply grateful. Of everything I've made so far,
Heeramandi
has received the most love. That means the world to me.

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