Manisha Koirala admits she was anxious and trembling after her first visit to the Heeramandi set, saying, “Sanjay asked me to go home.” Exclusive

Manisha Koirala plays the lead role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s massive Netflix series Heeramandi. Heeramandi, which takes place in Lahore’s named neighborhood in the 1940s, depicts the life of courtesans among the Indian liberation movement.

Mallikajaan, the elderly courtesan who governs Heeramandi, is portrayed by Manisha. Ahead of the show’s premiere, the actress speaks exclusively with DNA about her 28-year separation from Bhansali, her decision to marry Heeramandi, and other topics.

Manisha featured in Khamoshi, Bhansali’s first feature film, which came out in 1996. Regarding her reunion with Bhansali, she said, “His genius and passion for film remain unaltered.” Despite the stark differences between Heeramandi and Khamoshi, he nonetheless takes an honest and passionate approach to storytelling.

As Manisha points out, Bhansali’s masterpiece, Heeramandi, is perhaps the most costly web series produced in India ever. Regarding the scope of the program, Manisha adds, “When you see that your filmmaker has put in so much effort, it becomes your responsibility to match up to that, level up your dedication.”

The lavish sets of Heeramandi, where Bhansali has lavishly reproduced the renowned neighborhood in his own unique style, are the focal point of the opulence. Manisha recalls her first reaction upon seeing that magnificence, saying, “I asked Sanjay to show me the set so I could fully immerse myself in Mallikajaan’s world.” I was surprised when I first saw the set. I started to become very anxious when I realized I might be involved in this. I questioned how I would manage. Sanjay was putting up a shot while I spent a few hours there. Sanjay begged me to go home because he wanted me to look well for the shoot the next day, but I was so frightened. I was so taken aback by the surroundings that I was unable to tell him that I was trembling.

Manisha claims that she purposefully avoided seeing other films in this genre or other depictions of courtesans in Indian cinema. “I need that distance if I want to do something that has never been done before. I didn’t watch anything in this genre; instead, I merely added to the script based on my gut. You take certain events from your life and rearrange them into situations that make sense to you. The actress said, “As an artist, you are always searching for that ingredient to bring into your performance.