Actor Fardeen Khan on Friday shared a clip of the first scene he shot for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Netflix period drama Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, calling his experience “memorable” and “exhilarating”.
“The first scene I filmed for Heeramandi and the first time being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It was memorable and an exhilarating experience,” the 50-year-old wrote alongside the video on Instagram.
The video shows a scene where Fardeen’s character Wali Bin Zayed-Al Mohammed flirts with Aditi Rao Hydari’s Bibbojaan while the two of them play cards on a bed.
“As I stepped onto the set, I felt a great mix of excitement and nervousness,” Fardeen said.
Heaping praise on Bhansali and the set of Heeramandi, Fardeen further wrote, “Known for his meticulous attention to detail and grandiose sets SLB sir creates an atmosphere that is both intense and inspiring. The set was like a visual masterpiece, with intricate designs, elaborate costumes, and a palpable sense of history and drama.”
The No Entry actor further said that Bhansali’s strive for perfection motivated him to “deliver his best”. “His [Bhansali] guidance is both precise and passionate, encouraging you to delve deep into your character and bring out the nuances that make his films and scenes so compelling.”
For Fardeen, working on Heeramandi has been an “enriching learning experience”, he said.
“By the end of the shoot you would feel a profound sense of accomplishment, knowing you had contributed to something truly special under the direction of a cinematic maestro,” the Heyy Babyy actor signed off.
Marking Bhansali’s OTT debut, the series follows the stories of love, passion, freedom and betrayal experienced by courtesans living in Lahore’s oldest red-light district, Heeramandi. Set against the backdrop of British-ruled India, it shows how the courtesans — played by Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal and Sanjeeda Shaikh — found themselves entangled in a constant power struggle with anti-colonial movements on the rise.
Fardeen returned to the world of acting with Heeramandi after a hiatus of 14 years. Also starring Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar and Adhyayan Suman, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar hit Netflix on May 1.
