‘Heeramandi’ marks the return of Manisha Koirala to Bhansali’s universe after they collaborated on ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ in 1996.
Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Pic/Instagram
As Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-awaited web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ releases on Netflix, cinephiles have already given it a thumbs-up. Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, the eight-part series is an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi, offering a compelling narrative.
‘Heeramandi’ marks the return of Manisha Koirala to Bhansali’s universe after they collaborated on ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ in 1996. Manisha plays the role of Mallikajaan, queen of Shahi Mahal. She governs over an aristocratic courtesan house. Despite her stature in the series and being a veteran, Manisha isn’t the highest-paid actress on the show.
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As per reports, Sonakshi Sinha has emerged as the one making the most bucks with a salary of Rs 2 crore. Manisha, on the other hand, was paid Rs 1 crore, which is fifty percent less.
Spoiler alert! Sinha plays Fareedan, the daughter of Manisha's late nemesis, who raises problems in the household. Interestingly she has a double role and the first episode shows that Fareedan’s mother sold Manisha’s son to not have him grow up in a brothel.
In a conversation with ANI, Manisha shared how the traditional notion of a limited shelf life for actresses is gradually fading away, paving the way for diverse opportunities and roles. "When I started, I didn't know if I could work for over 10 years. It has been almost 30-plus years now, and it's truly a blessing to still get opportunities to work with great directors and portray meaningful characters..." she said.
"...The concept of actresses having a limited shelf life is no longer true. Many actresses are young, and many are of our age, doing excellent work, and portraying diverse characters. It's a great time for all of us," she added.
Meanwhile, Bhansali has charged a whopping Rs 60-65 crore to make the series.
Aditi Rao Hydari, who plays Bibbojaan, the eldest daughter of Manisha Koirala, charged between Rs 1-1.5 crore. Richa Chadha, plays Lajjo, a courtesan whose resilience echoes in the halls of Shahi Mahal, but who has an addiction problem was paid Rs 1 crore.
Television actress Sanjeeda Shaikh was paid Rs 40 lakh. She stars as Waheeda, who is betrayed and silenced by fate and seeks to find redemption beyond beauty. She is also a courtesan with a scar on her face.
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