WEB DESK: In a remarkable turn of events, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus debut series, “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” has been renewed for a second season by Netflix. The announcement comes after the series soared to unprecedented popularity within the first week of its May 1 release.
“Heeramandi” quickly climbed Netflix’s worldwide non-English TV chart, securing top positions in 43 countries and becoming the most-viewed Indian series on the platform globally. It has also dominated the No. 1 spot in India’s Top 10 chart since its launch.
Set against the backdrop of the Heeramandi district in Lahore, British India, from 1920 to 1947—a period marked by the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan—Season 1 weaves a rich narrative around the tawaifs, akin to Japan’s geishas, who were skilled in music and dance and often sought after by nobility. Central to the story are Mallikajaan (played by Manisha Koirala), the cunning queen of Heeramandi, and her ambitious niece Fareedan (portrayed by Sonakshi Sinha), who is determined to overthrow her aunt.
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The first season was the result of a gruelling production process, spanning 350 shooting days over three years. Reflecting on the journey, Bhansali told Variety, “It takes a lot to make a series. This one has taken a lot. After ‘Gangubai’ [Berlinale title ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’] released in February 2022, from that to now every single day I have worked without a break. So the responsibility is huge on the series.”
Looking ahead, Bhansali shared insights into the second season: “In ‘Heeramandi 2,’ the women now come from Lahore to the film world. They leave Lahore after the partition and most of them settle in the Mumbai film industry or Kolkata film industry. So that journey in the bazaar remains the same. They still have to dance and sing, but this time for the producers and not for the nawabs. So that’s the second season we are planning, let’s see where it goes.”
The announcement for Season 2 was made in spectacular fashion at an event on Carter Road, Mumbai, where a flash mob of 100 dancers, dressed in glittering anarkalis (traditional Indian gowns) and ghungroos (anklets), performed a medley of songs from the series, revealing the news during their dance.
Monika Shergill, VP of Content at Netflix India, expressed her excitement, saying, “Sanjay Leela Bhansali has intricately woven magic to bring ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ to life. Watching audiences everywhere fall in love with this series—making it truly their own as a cultural phenomenon—has been hugely energizing, and it thrills me to share that we will be back with Season 2.”
