Heeramandi
Review:
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali
is
undoubtedly
one
of
the
best
filmmakers
we
have
in
the
Indian
film
industry.
Moviegoers
keenly
wait
to
watch
his
extravaganza
movies
on
the
big
screens.
Many
years
ago,
he
was
supposed
to
make
a
film
titled
Heeramandi,
but
the
movie
never
went
on
the
floors.
Later,
it
was
announced
that
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali
is
all
set
to
make
his
OTT
debut
with
the
series
Heeramandi
The
Diamond
Bazaar.
The
series
has
finally
started
streaming
on
Netflix.
So,
is
worth
a
watch?
Find
out
in
our
review
below…

The
series
revolves
around
Mallika
Jaan
(Manisha
Koirala)
who
is
the
huzoor
of
Shahi
Mahal
in

Heeramandi.
She
owns
Shahi
Mahal
and
has
her
sister
Waheeda
(Sanjeeda
Shaikh),
daughters
Bibbojaan
(Aditi
Rao
Hydari)
and
Alamzeb
(Sharmin
Segal),
and
Rajjo
(RIcha
Chadha)
working
for
her
as
Tawaifs.
Fareedan
(Sonakshi
Sinha)
comes
to
Heeramandi
and
stands
against
Mallika
Jaan
as
a
competitor.
How
these
two
try
to
ruin
each
other’s
life
and
how
later
tawaifs
become
a
part
of
India’s
Independence,
form
the
rest
of
the
story…

Heeramandi
has
eight
episodes
and
the
first
five
episodes
are
undoubtedly
very
engaging.
You
will
be
hooked
to
the
series
and
will
be
keen
to
know
what
will
happen
next.
However,
the
sixth
and
seventh
episode
look
very
strecthed,
and
the
reason
is
that
the
character
of
Alamzeb
and
her
love
story
has
been
given
too
much
of
importance
which
was
not
much
required.
It
of
course
gave
SLB’s
niece
Sharmin
Segal
too
much
of
screen
time.

The
build
up
for
the
freedom
fight
looks
very
long.
The
freedom
fight
angle,
where
tawaifs
of
Heeramandi
take
the
centre
stage,
comes
quite
later
in
the
series.
Maybe,
if
the
last
couple
of
episodes
concentrated
more
on
the
freedome
fight,
it
would
have
made
more
impact.

Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali’s
films
are
visually
grand,
and
his
OTT
debut
Heeramandi
is
not
an
exception.
The
series
is
mounted
on
a
huge
scale,
making
is
visually
very
appealing.
There
are
grand
sets,
and
beautiful
outfits
and
jewelry
for
the
actors.

Heeramandi
Actors’
Performances

One
more
thing
which
is
always
the
highlight
of
SLB’s
movies
is
the
performances
of
the
actors,
and
here
he
has
surely
taken
out
the
best
from
everyone.

Manisha
Koirala
has
undoubtedly
give
the
best
performance
of
her
career.
She
is
excellent
as
the
cunning
Mallika
Jaan
who
can
do
anything
for
her
position
and
Shahi
Mahal.
If
there’s
a
National
Award
for
OTT
Best
Actress,
Manisha
deserves
it.
After
Manisha,
it
is
Sonakshi
Sinha
who
grabs
our
attetion
with
her
performance
as
Fareedan
and
Rehana.
She
just
nails
the
grey
character
and
Sonakshi
has
also
given
her
career’s
best
performance
in
the
series.

Aditi
Rap
Hydari
gets
her
scenes
to
shine
and
she
proves
that
she
doesn’t
need
a
dialogue
to
emote
as
she
can
act
with
her
eyes.
Sanjeeda
Shaikh
is
clearly
a
revelation
as
we
haven’t
seen
her
earlier
in
a
such
a
strong
character;
wonderful
performance
by
her
as
well.
Richa
Chadha
has
an
extended
cameo
in
the
series,
and
the
actress
as
Rajjo
is
so
good
that
she
leaves
us
wanting
for
more.
You
will
feel
like
‘we
wanted
more
of
Richa’
as
she
has
given
an
amazing
performance
in
the
cameo
as
well.

Sharmin
Segal
has
one
of
the
meatiest
roles
to
portray,
but
unfoturnatly,
she
doesn’t
do
justice
to
the
character.
She
has
just
one
expression
throughout
the
series.

While
the
six
leads
of
SLB’s
Heeramandi
get
good
screentime,
he
has
not
left
the
supporting
cast
behind.
Jayati
Bhatia,
Pratibha
Ranta,
and
Shruti
Sharma
are
simply
excellent
in
their
respective
roles.
All
three
of
them
get
some
really
good
scenes
to
performan,
and
they
have
nailed
it.

When
it
comes
to
male
leads,
it
is
Taha
Shah
Badussha
who
steals
the
show.
He
has
a
very
meaty
role
to
play,
and
has
done
a
fantastic
job.
We
are
sure
his
female
fan
following
will
grow
after
this
series.
After
Taha,
it
is
Jason
Shah
and
Indresh
Malik,
who
grab
our
attention
with
their
performances.
Both
the
actors
shine
in
their
respective
roles.

Shekhar
Suman
and
Adhyayan
Suman
also
leave
a
strong
mark
with
their
performances,
especially
the
latter
as
he
plays
a
double
role
with
perfection.
Fardeen
Khan
makes
his
comeback
after
14
years,
but
he
doesn’t
have
much
to
do
in
the
series.
He
deserved
a
better
comeback.

Heeramandi
Music

It’s
an
SLB
series,
so
the
music
surely
has
to
play
a
piovotal
role,
and
the
songs
are
impressive.
Sakal
Ban,
Tilasmi
Bahien,
and
Azadi
will
grab
your
attention.

Heeramandi
Review
Final
Verdict

Overall,
Heeramandi
The
Diamond
Bazaar
is
an
entertaining
series,
but
yes,
after
five
episodes
it
does
look
stretched.
If
you
are
a
Bhansali,
Manisha,
and
Sonakshi
fan,
then
of
course
this
is
a
must-watch
for
you.
Others
too
can
surely
give
it
try
and
can
watch
it
once.