Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, finally debuted on Netflix today. Amidst the excitement surrounding the premiere, revelations have emerged about Bhansali’s original vision for Heeramandi, including his ambitious casting choices.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to cast Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Rekha in Heeramandi
At the Los Angeles premiere of Heeramandi, Bhansali revealed his initial vision for the project. He divulged that his creative journey with Heeramandi dates back 18 years. Initially conceived as a larger-than-life film, the director harbored ambitions of enlisting a trio of iconic actresses – Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Rani Mukerji.
In a recent conversation with Lilly Singh, Bhansali reminisced about his initial casting aspirations. He revealed, “This was 18 years ago so at one point it was Rekha ji, Kareena, and Rani Mukerji.” He went on to explain the evolution of the project, stating, “Then it changed into another cast, then it changed into another cast.” The shift in medium from film to web series facilitated the exploration of this rich storyline tapestry in a more expansive manner.
Venturing further into the details of his casting choices, Sanjay Leela Bhansali stated that he briefly entertained the idea of roping in Pakistani actors as well. In fact, Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Imran Abbas were in contention for pivotal roles. However, as the project evolved, so did the ensemble cast associated with it.
Despite initial conceptualization as a film, Bhansali’s vision found its ultimate expression in OTT in the form of a series. He elaborated on how satisfied he was with the current cast. This includes Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah, Fardeen Khan, and Shekhar Suman, among others.
Fans can now watch Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, which is now available to stream on Netflix.
