Did Heeramandi aim at becoming Indian version of The Crown? Netflix India content head reveals Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s plan

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Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s series Heeramandi generated a lot of positive buzz following its premiere. The show, featuring Aditi Rao Hydari and Manisha Koirala, was highly acclaimed for its compelling narrative, stellar acting, Bhansali’s trademark opulence, and more. However, you might not be aware that the production aimed to emulate the style of “The Crown” within an Indian context. Indeed, Netflix’s Vice President of Content, Monika Shergill, revealed this ambition from the filmmaker.

During an interview with IndiaTV ShowBiz, Monika Shergill revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali envisioned ‘Heeramandi’ as a grand, epic production, and the script was crafted to reflect this vision. She said, “His idea was that this should be India’s version of ‘The Crown.’ That’s how ‘Heeramandi’ took shape.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my insights about the show Monika mentioned. It was set in a distinctive era and location, yet it resonated with ‘relatable’ feelings that transcended borders, proving its appeal not just within the country but worldwide. An intriguing fact she disclosed was that SLB personally composed the music for the series, thereby enhancing the grandeur of his cinema and striking a chord closer to our hearts. However, it’s essential to note that the head of Netflix India content didn’t shy away from maintaining integrity in any aspect to deliver an authentic cinematic experience.

When discussing her collaboration with the renowned filmmaker, she described it as ‘an extraordinary period’. She went on to say that he is not merely a creator but an exceptional individual who meticulously adds details to every aspect. Monika Shergill stated, “He invested time in grasping streaming as a medium and consistently sought feedback to make sure he was appealing to the streaming audience in a way they prefer, all while maintaining the integrity of his storytelling.

Monika additionally emphasized that streaming services provide fresh artistic paths for movie creators and narrators, allowing them the liberty to explore mixing genres, prolonged stories, and multiple series arcs.

In the realm of cinema, characters often find their place within a singular narrative, but with streaming platforms, I’ve found a unique advantage. These platforms offer an opportunity to revisit and re-live those characters and moments repeatedly. Interestingly, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has taken advantage of this freedom as well, opting for an extended format to bring his rich visual stories to life in a more immersive fashion.

For those not familiar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali ventured into streaming platforms for the first time with Netflix’s show “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar”. This series features a star-studded cast including Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Taha Shah, Richa Chadha, Fardeen Khan, and others in significant roles.

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2025-05-12 06:22