Behind Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Regal Heeramandi Film Set: 700 Craftsmen And 7 Months Of Work To Come To Life

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's larger-than-life sets have always exuded magnificence. With fine art, ideation and creativity, his sets are a focal point. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known to outperform every time he releases a movie or series. From extravagant costumes to deep-rooted characters to meaningful songs, it is beyond the ordinary imagination. His next release is no exception. Netflix's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is his latest project crossing all the bars in terms of scale, art and architecture. Recently, in a conversation with Architectural Digest, the filmmaker spilled beans on his majestic set and what it took to bring the set to life.

The regal aesthetic of the movie reflected in the details of the set. The filmmaker revealed that it took 700 craftsmen to create the outstanding set. With straight seven months of continuous hardship at Mumbai's Film City, the appealing result finally came to life. As Sanjay Leela Bhansali enters the streaming sector with this period drama, he is already raising the bar with an exceptional set. The set, which needed 60,000 wooden planks and metal frames, is an exceptional canvas to portray the filmmakers vision.

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The official Instagram page of Architectural Digest shared an array of pictures that gave us a glimpse of the architectural beauty. The pristine white marble flooring adorned with grey floral designs is an appealing vision. The multiple majestic chandeliers add the right amount of gold to a gloomy background, symbolising the difference between the courtesans and the upper class. The next slide shows Sanjay Leela Bhansali standing in the middle of a gold-lit corridor and the greyish courtyard.

During his conversation with the magazine, Sanjay Leela Bhansali added that those 60,000 wooden planks house the Shahi Mahal of Mallikajaan, essayed by Manisha Koirala. It includes Khwabgaah, the quarters of Fareedan, played by Sonakshi Sinha. A splendid white mosque also rests atop it. This was sealed with a colonial-looking room, other smaller kothas and also a hammam room. It is all adorned with the rich arts, crafts and textiles of the time.

Further, the essence of the British period is added through miniature Mughal paintings, delicate frescoes, and colonial portraits of officers. Keeping the precision of the era in mind, the filigree work on the window frames, the minutely etched wooden doors, the enamel carving on the floor and even the chandeliers are all handmade. Needless to say, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has yet again nailed it with his incredible art.

The makers ensured that the furniture took the viewers back to the early 1900s. Therefore, the teak wood furniture, from the 1930s and 40s, was brought from an antique store in Amdavad. Sanjay Leela Bhansali added that he has purchased some sofas and tables used in the series for his collection.

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