Sanjay Leela Bhansali reveals he wanted to cast Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan & Imran Abbas in 'Heeramandi'

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, which also marks his digital debut, dropped on May 1 on Netflix. At the screening of the period drama in Los Angeles, the auteur made some startling revelations, sharing that Pakistani actors Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Imran Abbas were initially considered to play significant roles in the star-studded show.

SLB wanted to cast Pakistani actors in 'Heeramandi'

In a conversation with YouTuber and host Lily Singh, SLB revealed that the current cast was not his initial choice and that he wanted to rope Bollywood divas Rekha Ji, Karena, and Rani Mukerji. Sharing that the idea of Heeramandi has stayed with him for 18 years, the filmmaker also revealed that it was supposed to be a film. He said, "I had multiple castings in my mind; the idea has existed for 18 years. I thought about Rekha Ji and then Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rani Mukerji. It was a film back then."

The filmmaker further revealed that at one point, he had also thought about casting Pakistani actors, Mahira Khan, Imran Abbas, and Fawad Khan; however, he ended up with the current ensemble cast.

Imran Abbas reacts to Bhansali's revelation

Imran Abbas had talked about being offered the Sanjay Leela Bhansali project during a 2024 interview with ARY Digital's Shaan-e-Suhoor. "I had not said no to Heeramandi, but it got shelved," he had said. After his interview, the actor faced backlash for claiming that he was to be a part of an SLB project. Now, the Pakistani actor has taken to Instagram to appreciate Bhansali for clarifying that he was, in fact, in consideration for 'Heeramandi'.

Imran wrote, “I appreciate Sanjay Leela Bhansali for providing this clarification. I would like to encourage my dear netizens and YouTubers to inquire with the other directors I mentioned in my interviews to confirm the offers made by them. The most disheartening aspect is not a lack of belief in me or the perception of me as a liar or a show-off."

He added, "It is evident that some individuals are confined within their limited worldview, unaware of many real-life experiences that others have encountered. For them, it's still a fantasy, since they are living in a small nutshell. What is even more distressing is when your own people degrade their own celebrities by quoting disrespectful comments from certain YouTubers and so-called journalists, who have faced criticism and are not at all credible even within the Bollywood industry."

More about 'Heeramandi'

'Heeramandi' delves deep into the lives of courtesans in the pre-independence era. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah, Fardeen Khan, and Shekhar Suman, among others.

Speaking about the theme of the show, Bhansali earlier said, “This is a story of love, power, freedom, and extraordinary women, their desires, and struggles. It marks a new milestone in my journey. In Netflix, we found the ideal partner —- one who not only shares our love for storytelling but also possesses the unparalleled capability to bring our series to the most diverse and global audience imaginable."

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