LIVE:
How Did Sanjay Leela Bhansali Almost Lose his Iconic 'Heeramandi' to David Dhawan?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" has captivated audiences and sparked widespread discussion since its release. The show's remarkable ensemble cast, memorable songs, impactful dialogues, and compelling performances have ignited a new wave of enthusiasm on social media platforms.
The idea of any other director helming this project seems inconceivable, yet Bhansali almost lost "Heeramandi" to David Dhawan. In a recent interview with a national daily, Bhansali shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes tale reminiscent of a Bollywood script. "Aditya Pancholi brought Writer Moin Beg to my house and said he’s written something special and only you can make it. I said there’s nothing like that," Bhansali recounted. This occurred shortly after Bhansali had completed "Devdas." Rather than moving forward with "Heeramandi," he chose to direct "Black."
Bhansali revealed that Writer Moin Beg persistently reminded him about "Heeramandi" over the years. “Whenever I announced a new film, Moin would call me. ‘You are not making Heeramandi? Now, you’ve started another film. Now, you’ve started Ram-Leela! Now, you’ve started Bajirao Mastani! And now, you’ve started Padmaavat!’ Then he just threatened me that he’d take the script away and give it to David Dhawan,” Bhansali said with a chuckle.
The decision to finally create "Heeramandi" was solidified after a brief meeting with Netflix’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, in Los Angeles before the release of "Gangubai Kathiawadi." Bhansali explained, “The script would come out every 2-3 years. But I always said to myself that this is very big. It needs a lot of time – 3, 4, or 5 hours. Luckily, when this format (of OTT) started opening up and becoming popular, my mind kept thinking maybe this is the right place to make Heeramandi.”
"Heeramandi" premiered on Netflix on May 1 and features a star-studded cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha, and Sharmin Segal in lead roles. The show also highlights the talents of Farheen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman in significant roles.
Bhansali is now preparing for his upcoming film "Love & War," which stars Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal. Officially announced in January 2024, Bhansali recently provided an update on the movie’s music during an interview, revealing that he has composed a song for it.
- PTC PUNJABI
