Sanjay Leela Bhansali Gives An Update On Heeramandi; Reveals Film Won’t Resemble ‘Pakeezah In Look Or Mood’

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming web series which is named Heeramandi will star Alia Bhatt, Huma Qureshi, Sonakshi Sinha, and Tanvi Azmi. The series will explore stories of courtesans, the hidden cultural reality of Heeramandi, a district in Lahore in pre-Independence India. The series will have an abundance of songs and music which are all composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Heeramandi is being designed as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s own Pakeezah. Heeramandi is touted to be stories of love, betrayal, politics, and succession. The first season of Heeramandi will comprise of seven episodes followed by seven more episodes in Season 2.

The sources close to the development told Spotboye, “The first episode is being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali himself. The other six episodes will be directed by Bhansali’s erstwhile assistant Vibhu Puri.” Sanjay Leela Bhansali said, “Though there is no similarity in the plot except the tawaif (courtesan) angle Heeramandi would be my tribute to one of my favorite films Pakeezah. However, the tribute is neither visual nor emotional. It is more in spirit than in flesh.” While talking about the same he added, “How can Pakeezah not be at the back of a director’s mind when he is making a film about the tawaif culture? However, Heeramandi won’t resemble Pakeezah in look or mood. We already have Pakeezah. There is no need for another.”

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For an unversed, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has completed 25 years in the industry. He is serving the industry for the past 25 years with his quality content. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Guzaarish, Goliyon Ke Rasleela: Ram Leela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat and several others are under his name. The last film he did was Padmaavat which starred Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor in the lead roles grossed over Rs 300 crore at the box office.

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On his completion of 25 years in the industry, Bollywood actors including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone penned a few heartfelt notes for the filmmaker. Ranveer Singh wrote, “Whenever you are directed by him you have a tremendous growth spurt as a performer. He challenges you, he pushes you to deliver a performance that’s visceral, spirited and comes from a place deep within you. He enriches and inspires you. He nurtures his actors and extracts their very best performances”.