Indian filmmaker, producer, and music composer Sanjay Leela Bhansali had been holding onto the story of Heeramandi for 14 long years. Finally, in 2021, he collaborated with Netflix to work on his most ambitious project yet. Well-known for helming larger-than-life projects — Gangubai Kathiawadi, Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, and many more — Bhansali recruited a talented cast, which included Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and many others, to present the story of the tawaifs (courtesans) of Heeramandi, who played a pivotal role in the cultural landscape of colonial India.
Heeramandi is a period drama that takes the audience back to Lahore in the 1940s. The now-dilapidated area was once known for its literature, music, and dance, and was frequented by royals and nobles. As the series progresses, it delves into the complex relationships between the courtesans and the royals, while exploring the themes of romance, politics, and history of the pre-independence era. The series features talented actors such as Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman in pivotal roles.
Heeramandi: Here’s how many Crores Sanjay Leela Bhansali charged for Netflix’s new period drama
Bhansali, who made his debut in the digital world with Heeramandi, left no stone unturned when it came to storytelling, cinematic effects, magnificent sets, and a remarkable cast. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project and told ANI, “Heeramandi is a significant milestone in my filmmaking journey. It is an epic series based on the courtesans of Lahore and is the first of its kind. The series is ambitious, grand and all-encompassing, which makes me both nervous and excited.“
According to a Times of India report, the period drama (Heeramandi) was made on a budget of a whopping Rs 200 crore. Interestingly, a significant portion of this amount was earned by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali as his fees for helming the project. According to a report by Money Control, Bhansali charged around Rs 60-70 crore for his work on Heeramandi, which is much higher than the amount Sonakshi Sinha earned for her role of Fareedan in the Netflix series. She was the highest-paid actress and received a pay cheque of Rs 2 crore for her performance.
Considered as one of the best filmmakers in the country, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, made his directorial debut with Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) starring Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Nana Patekar, has won several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, which is the fourth-highest civilian award. According to an ABP Live report, the 61-year-old filmmaker has an impressive net worth of Rs 940 crore. In addition to helming films and shows, Bhansali also produces movies through his production company, Bhansali Productions. He even launched his own music label, Bhansali Music, in 2023.
