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Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first web series 'Hiramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' has been streamed on Netflix from May 1. At the Los Angeles premiere of the big-budget show, Bhansali talked about its casting. He told that he was going to make a film with Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rani Mukherjee instead of making it a web series. Not only this, he also talked to Pakistani actors about working in 'Hiramandi'. The director says that the idea of making 'Hiramandi' was in his mind for 18 years, but its story was very big, it would have been difficult to show it through a film.
While talking to Lily Singh at the premiere, Sanjay Leela Bhansali said- It was 18 years ago, when the idea of casting Rekha ji, Kareena and Rani Mukherjee came to my mind. In this way, about three times different names had come to Bhansali's mind regarding the casting of 'Hiramandi'.
But these names came to his mind when he was thinking of making 'Hiramandi' a film. Bhansali shared that at one point, he also thought of casting Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, actor Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas in the show.
In an earlier conversation with ARY's Shaan-e-Suhoor, Imran had opened up about playing a character in Bhansali's show. He had said- I did not deny it, but it was postponed at that time. Imran had also shared that he was also offered the role of Aditya Roy Kapur in the film 'Guzaarish'.
These actors made OTT debut
The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Fardeen Khan, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Adhyayan Suman and Shekhar Suman in lead roles. Bhansali has made his OTT debut through this series.
The series highlights the lives of prostitutes in Lahore's Hiramandi red-light area during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj in the 1940s. The series has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Mitakshara Kumar.
