Directed by the esteemed Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar‘ is a web series that debuted on Netflix on Wednesday (May 1) and has garnered positive reviews. Featuring Bollywood actresses Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadda, and Sanjeeda Sheikh, the series is set against the backdrop of the lives of courtesans in Lahore, now in Pakistan, before India’s independence.
High Budget Series
Heeramandi is recognized as one of the most lavishly produced web series in the country, with a production budget of ₹200 crores. The compensation for the star actresses and other actors alone amounted to nearly ₹60 – 65 crores, with the highest ₹2 crores paid to Sonakshi Sinha, followed by ₹1.5 crores to Aditi Rao Hydari and ₹1 crore to Manisha Koirala.
28 Years Later.
Star actress Manisha Koirala previously collaborated with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the 1996 film ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’. Now, 28 years later, they have teamed up once again with Heeramandi.
Who is Sharmin Segal?
In the Heeramandi series, actress Sharmin Segal has played a pivotal role and distinguished herself with her outstanding performance. However, she is not just an actress; she is the granddaughter of singer Bela Segal and Niece of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
700 People, 7 Months
The series, which draws on historical events prior to India’s independence, was brought to life by nearly 700 crew members who worked for seven months to recreate the ambiance of the old Heeramandi. Notably, this is the largest set ever built for a Bhansali-directed project.
Over 300 Costumes
In the Heeramandi series, all the heroines are strikingly beautiful, adorned in a variety of costumes. The famed designers Rimple and Harpreet are responsible for this glamour, having spent two years creating over 300 costumes specifically tailored for this series.
Music by Him Too!
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a multi-talented director known for his excellent direction but also for composing exquisite music for his projects. He provided he music for the Heeramandi series as well.
3 Hours of Makeup
One of the most striking features of the Heeramandi series is the elaborate makeup worn by the heroines. It took approximately 2-3 hours for the leading actresses to prepare for their roles. The production team revealed that half of the shooting schedule is dedicated to makeup. The series took 380 days to complete.
Jewelry Design
Every character in the Heeramandi series is adorned with captivating jewelry, each piece specifically designed to complement their roles. For this series, the creators crafted over 10,000 unique pieces of jewelry, with the collective weight of these items surpassing 300 kilograms, according to the production team.
