"Both countries are showing a lot of love."
Sanjay Leela Bhansali asserted that Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar brings people together.
The series depicts the lives of courtesans and is set in Lahore, Pakistan.
It generated controversy for being released in an era where there is still a stigma around Pakistani artists performing in Indian content and vice-versa.
The director said: “There was so much love that I received from Pakistan, people waiting for it anxiously, waiting for this to be told.
“It’s a piece that somehow brings us all together, when all India was one, it was undivided.
“These people belong to us as much as they belong to them.
“I think they belong to both of us and both countries are showing a lot of love for finally the show being made.
“I still feel we’re all one, I still feel that we’re all connected in so many ways.
“There’s a lot of love for people on both sides, leave aside a few people would want to create issues — but those are not relevant.”
“There are things in the characters that connect to people in my work.
“That is why they talk about it. A lot of people like it, a lot of people don’t like it.
“It’s a part of a give-and-take with an audience and filmmaker.
“I don’t mind being loved when they give me love, and I don’t mind quite being criticised when they don’t connect to my work.”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is not a stranger when it comes to controversy surrounding his material.
There was a vast amount of dispute when his film Padmaavat (2018) was in production.
Several instances saw sets of the film vandalised. On one occasion, Bhansali was physically attacked.
To lower the controversy, the film – originally titled Padmavati – was renamed Padmaavat.
Interestingly, Bhansali recently revealed that he wanted to cast Pakistani actors in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
He admitted: “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 premiered on Netflix on May 1, 2024 and has received positive reviews from fans.
On the work front, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next project is Love and War.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.
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