Is Heeramandi Season 2 on the Way?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024) created waves.

The director opened up on its future and its production.

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes video, Bhansali said: “After every film, Heeramandi would come out.

“But I would say, ‘It’s too vast, it’s too epic to be made into a two-hour film’.

“Finally, the time came and we said, ‘Let’s make it into a series because that will do justice to the vastness of it’.

“The plight of the courtesans, they were queens also, but they had personal angst.

“They have personal joys and celebrations, but there’s sadness and pathos.

“All of this has to be felt in the architecture. The set has to come alive, when the actor walks in, it has to come alive.

“When the cameraman lights it, it has to come alive.

“I would want a certain kind of textile, and it comes alive when the cameraman lights it and the actor wears it.

“It’s very important to create a certain atmosphere.

“I would want a certain kind of music playing non-stop, constantly on the set.”

Discussing the show’s future, Bhansali asserted that he would not be able to make the show again.

This effectively put the idea of future seasons into question.

He concluded: “We’ve made it, I’ve enjoyed making it, and I’m thankful to God that we made it. It was a very difficult project.

“Nobody else will ever be able to make Heeramandi again, nor will I be able to make it again, because it happens once.”

Heeramandi starred Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Taha Shah Badussha in lead roles.

The series received mixed reviews, with praise for its visual artistry, music and direction. However, the story garnered polarising reactions.

Set in 1940s Lahore, the show explored the lives of courtesans in the red-light district of Heera Mandi.

Bhansali recently explained that he originally wanted Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan in the show.

He said: “This was 18 years ago, so at one point, it was Rekha Ji, Kareena (Kapoor Khan) and Rani Mukerji.

“Then it changed into another cast, then it changed into another cast.”

“It was a film back then.

“I then also thought about Mahira Khan, the Pakistani actress, and Imran Abbas and Fawad Khan were also in my mind at one point of time. But I ended up with this ensemble cast.”

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar consisted of eight episodes and premiered on Netflix on May 1, 2024.

Watch the behind-the-scenes video here: