Bagging the role
Aditi Rao Hydari, who reunites with the filmmaker after Padmaavat, manifested her part as Bibbojaan in Heeramandi over a decade ago. “It was incredible because I literally dreamt of this. I used to be like someday I would like to do a mujra and I needed Sanjay sir could direct it. After I was latest in Bombay around 2010-11, I heard that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was making Heeramandi. I never thought I’d be called for it. And there I used to be on set about to begin the mujra. I have not learnt Kathak and no rehearsals can prepare you for the intricacies of his knowledge. I even have grown up around artists, dancers and musicians. Somewhere in his mind, I believe there was Madhubala and that whole era of films that he desired to channel. He has his influences and he knows him so well. It was very special,” she said.
Fardeen Khan makes his comeback to acting as Wali Mohammed in Heeramandi. And if you happen to ask him, it was an expected casting call. He recalled, “It isn’t something I had planned. I used to be working on one other project and the casting director of Heeramandi happened to see me at an award function. When she told me that she’d like me to satisfy Sanjay Leela Bhansali I could not consider my ears. I used to be exploding with excitement and nervousness. Then I did a glance test and inside a number of days I got a call from saying, ‘You’re my Wali, welcome onboard.’ It is a dream for any actor and I’m so grateful for this likelihood. Getting an endorsement from him is an enormous deal.”
While Taha Shah who plays Tajdar Balouch, knew he had landed a serious role he wasn’t prepared to get the essential character treatment. He mused, “I wasn’t prepared to get the hero treatment. I used to be okay to play any role but the good Sanjay Leela Bhansali saw something in me. He increased my role twice and that is how I landed Tajdar. I feel the characters are very layered. They are not just good or bad. All of them have their grey shades. Tajdar believes in loving one person and never being oppressed by the Britishers and standing up for what’s right.”
He added, “We shot this for a couple of 12 months and a half. There have been gaps but each time we resumed filming it has been a blessing. I hope the audiences also feel for the character.”
Fardeen Khan found himself mesmerised by the world of nawabs. “Heeramandi transcends your understanding of a typical nawab and courtesan. Wali was someone who was looking for true love despite being royalty on the time. He staked his heart to her and although in her world it’s forbidden to present your heart she conflicted. The best way our story unfolds, it’s difficult to do what she ultimately does. It was fascinating to bring that dynamic where they’re each breaking their rules of what is anticipated of them. Their souls connect but they cannot transcend.”
Shedding light on how his onscreen chemistry with Aditi was easy to attain, he said, “It wasn’t much of an effort from my side. I took one have a look at her and I used to be in awe of her beauty. I used to be happily gifting away those romantic expressions. My first day of filming was with Bibbojaan. She was doing the song sequence. That is all the time difficult with the warmth and the extras there’s also Bhansali’s penchant for perfection. I used to be happily sitting there throwing money and jewels. I remember telling her I could get used to this.”
Aditi further added, “Somewhere Sanjay sir has this understanding that each nawab just isn’t the identical and each courtesan is not the identical. They’re all human beings and to bring out these special qualities in each of them and make them unique is what makes it so lovely. Every word that’s there in a line or a dialogue is already there. That claims so much about how passionate he’s. His heart is so full.”
Learning from the perfectionist
Reflecting on getting validation from the director, Fardeen said, “He demands one of the best of you so when he finally gives you the thumbs-up, you recognize you will have given it your best shot and you have found the sur of the scene and the emotion has landed so it’s extremely gratifying. He’s a master at what he does and he works so closely along with his actors and listens to them. He’s probably essentially the most intuitive director. He has this ability to follow his gut.”
Taha chimed in saying, “Normally when directors ask you the way you would like to go concerning the scene, I keep my mouth shut and don’t desire to say anything. But when he asked me and I said I wanted to do that scene like this he immediately agreed. It’s totally fun to have those moments with him where he’s treating you want his own child and having fun with you. Yes, there are intense moments but there are these sweet moments that stick with you ceaselessly.”
Heeramandi is currently streaming.
