“We Already Have A Paakeezah, Don’t Need Another One,” Says Bhansali On Heera Mandi

The casting for  Heera Mandi has begun  in  right earnest.  Among  the actresses likely to be a part  of  the cast are Alia Bhatt, Huma Qureshi,Sonakshi Sinha  and  Tanve Azmi.

The deal with Netflix is  for seven episodes of Heera Mandi in Season 1 followed  by seven more episodes  in Season 2.

An informed source reveals, “The first  episode  is being directed by  Sanjay Leela  Bhansali himself. The other  6 episodes  will be directed by  Bhansali’s  erstwhile  assistant  Vibhu Puri.”

 The  series will have an abundance  of songs  and music, all composed  by Sanjay Leela  Bhansali. Heera Mandi is being designed as Bhansali’s own Pakeezah.

Says  Bhansali,, “Though there is  no similarity in the plot except  the tawaif (courtesan) angle  Heera Mandi would be my  tribute to one  of my  favourite films Pakeezah.However  the  tribute is neither  visual not  emotional. It is  more in spirit than in flesh.”

Says  Sanjay Leela Bhansali, “How can Pakeezah not be at the back of  a director’s mind when  he is making a film about  the tawaif culture? However Heera  Mandi won’t resemble  Pakeezah  in look  or mood. We already have Pakeezah. There  is no need  for another.”