Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’ engaged 700 craftsmen to design the grandest set ever
Known for bringing his majestic signature flair to stories through magnificent set designs, this time Bhansali has outperformed himself in terms of production design by crafting the largest 1,60,000 sq ft set that can put to shame all the vanity of a Mughal royal court.
Demonstrating his mastery in production design, ‘Heeramandi’ manifests the hard work of 700 craftsmen who toiled at Film City Mumbai for 7 months to create the stunning set spanning about three acres.
The filmmaker told Architectural Digest that he “likes to be lost in bigger spaces,” and hence has an affinity for large sets. Bhansali has set up a three-acre set for his upcoming eight-part series, which will drop on Netflix on May 1.
Bhansali is gearing up to enter the world of streaming with his upcoming period drama series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The set of which is erected on about 60,000 wooden planks and metal frames, which, once finished, became the Shahi Mahal (royal palace) of Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala), the queen of the most powerful brothel in Heera Mandi.
The Mughal miniature paintings, frescoes, colonial portraits of British officers, the filigree work on the window frames, the enamel carving on the floor, the minutely etched wooden doors and even the chandeliers were all handmade under Bhansali’s supervision.
The set also encompasses the Khwabgaah (quarters), a splendid white mosque, a huge courtyard, a dancing hall, water fountains, a colonial-looking room, roads, shops, and other smaller kothas, and also a hammam room, showcasing the rich arts, crafts, and textiles of the time.
Expressing his admiration for legendary filmmakers Satyajit Ray and Kamal Amrohi for their talent in lending their sets to further the narrative, Bhansali asserts, “Architecture plays a very important role in frame-making and filmmaking.”
Follow us on