In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali opened up about his debut streaming project, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The journey of bringing this story to life has been two decades in the making, starting from a brief 24-page synopsis presented to Bhansali in 2003. "Aditya Pancholi brought 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 recalls. Despite his initial fascination, the project was repeatedly postponed as Bhansali went on to direct other films such as Black, Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat.
Bhansali shared how Moin Beg, the writer of Heeramandi, persistently reminded him about the project. “Whenever I announced a new film, Moin would call me. 'You are not making Heeramandi? Now, you've started another film,'” Bhansali said. This persistent delay led Beg to threaten to give the script to David Dhawan instead. However, a pivotal meeting with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos in Los Angeles prior to the release of Gangubai Kathiawadi reignited the project. In just a five-minute meeting, Sarandos greenlit the series, recognizing the potential for long-form storytelling that streaming platforms afford.
Discussing the format shift from film to streaming, Bhansali expressed that the advent of streaming services in India provided the perfect opportunity for a project of Heeramandi's scale. He emphasized that the story required substantial time and space to be told effectively. "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,” Bhansali noted. The flexibility and expansive nature of streaming platforms enabled him to delve deeper into the narrative, providing a rich, layered experience for viewers.
Despite the transition to smaller screens, Bhansali remains confident that the essence of his storytelling remains intact. Drawing an analogy from his experience with the legendary Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj during the making of Devdas, Bhansali remarked, “We are artists. Till we don't perform for anyone, we don't eat. We don't like food till then.” He concluded that his goal is for people to engage with Heeramandi, regardless of the medium. “I'm glad that there's a lot of discussion among people, irrespective of where they're watching Heeramandi,” he said, highlighting his belief that the series can redefine viewing habits and encourage repeat binge-watching sessions.
More Pages: Heeramandi Box Office Collection , Heeramandi Movie Review
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