Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is well-known for his epic settings and gripping dramas, will be making his first original television series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The highly anticipated television series was based on real-life pre-independence events.
Heeramandi Cast: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the very few filmmakers who doesn’t see women through a lens of judgment. With films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bajirao Mastani, and Devdas, the renowned filmmaker has proved his versatility and depth of characters. ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ boasts of an abundance of these ‘other women,’ who, although surrendering to their fate, never had to elude moral scrutiny to gain respect. Heeramandi promises to be extraordinary and provide us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The cast has a mix of well-known ‘new-age’ performers and well-established actors from the 1990s.
Experience a universe of elegance, extravagance, vintage charm, courtesans, and nawabs (royalty) with Netflix’s eagerly awaited ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.’ Award-winning filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s television series centres on the rivalry between Mallikajaan and Fareedan, two prominent courtesans, as they fight for control of Heeramandi, a thriving pre-partition Lahore hub for poetry, dances, and performing arts.
Meet The Tawaifs of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’
Manisha Koirala as Mallikajaan: 18 years after Khamoshi: The Musical, Manisha Koirala reprises her role as a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine in Mallikajaan. She is the matriarch of Shahi Mahal, a brothel located in the red-light district. She is ruthless, fearless, powerful, and in complete charge of Lahore. She also takes excessive pride in the empire she has created for herself.
Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbojaan: Mallikajaan’s eldest daughter, Bibbojaan, is portrayed by Aditi Rao Hydari. She’s a revolutionist as well as a tawaif. Her most potent tools are compassion and a keen mind, yet she mostly lets her eyes and quiet speak for her. She takes on the role of spokesperson for India’s liberation from British domination and frequently jeopardizes her life to save her country.
Sharmin Segal as Alamzeb: Bibbojaan’s younger sister, Alamzeb is portrayed by Sharmin Segal Mehta. Most of Alam’s time is spent reading poetry, and she hopes to one day become a poet, while her mother Mallikajaan dreams of having her ‘nath utraayi,’ or coming-out ceremony for a ‘mujre waali.’
Richa Chadha as Lajjojaan: Richa Chadha referred to her character Lajjojaan as a ‘female version of Devdas’ in her description. She has a deep love for a nawab named Zoravar, but their unfulfilled relationship tears her heart and makes her delusional, so she turns to alcohol. She has reached the rock bottom and lost any feeling of self-worth, leaving her a disaster emotionally.
Sanjeeda Shaikh as Waheedan: Waheedan is not fond of her older sister Mallikajaan, whom she holds responsible for her lost beauty and radiance. She is determined to earn back her respect by any means since she is jealous of her daughter’s youth. Her facial scar turns into her greatest enigma. Wajeedan, duped and deceived by everyone she loves, is battling her fear of losing her attractiveness.
Sonakshi Sinha as Fareedan: Sonakshi Sinha’s Fareedan is an admirable, cunning, and witty character who is the daughter of Mallikajaan’s older sister, who met a tragic end. She is the greatest threat to Mallikajaan, who fears this new Heeramandi entrant will destroy her. Her sole goal in life is to get revenge for the injustice done to her mother, and she is fighting this war alone. She has no fear of anyone and doesn’t hesitate to pursue vices.
