Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi set design is more than just a part of the series, it is a cinematic experience, showcasing his mastery of production design, crafted with ornate details to transport the viewers into a visual masterpiece of pre-independence India.

The careful detailing of this Bollywood set design is a promising glimpse into the secrets behind the courtesans of Lahore, the Shahi Mahal of Mallikajaan, bustling bazaars, and opulent kothas. The set designers have masterfully highlighted historical inspirations with intricate detailing of furnishings and props. 

This article further details the set designs, creative minds, challenges, and integrated elements of the show.?

Heeramandi filming locations 

“It was like making four-big sized films, fourteen years of planning, eighteen years of living with it.”, said the masterful Sanjay Bhansali. 

While the idea always lived in Bhansali’s mind, he repeatedly mentioned that it was too vast to be made within two and a half hours. He concluded by producing it as a series instead of a movie to do complete justice to the vastness of the story. 

While the origins of the series architecture trace back to a Mughal era – Shahi Mohallah, which blossomed as Heeramandi under Maharaja Ranjit Singh?s Sikh rule, The Diamond Bazaar, was shot not in Lahore but in a three-acre hand-painted set in film city, Mumbai. Subrata Chakraborty played an exclusive role in intricately detailing the grand sets of Heeramandi as a primary set and art designer of the series. 

“There is always magic working with Bhansali; he is an artist himself,” said Subrata Chakraborty, the magnificent set designer.

Production design Heeramandi

With seven long months and 700 craftsmen creating a set like never before, Bhansali’s show revolves around the lives of the red-light district tawaifs. As he likes getting lost in bigger spaces, the set is a spectacular life-like visual of a world where jewellery, weaving, and dance are nurtured as a part of one’s life. 

Rooted in realism, the eight-part series unfolds a fusion of Indian and Islamic art and architectural styles, that prevailed during the 1940’s. Production designers carefully introduced intricately crafted furniture and decor that integrated into the set and also brought in antique furniture from Gujarat. 

Recreating the once-alive district, with gilded mirrors and intricate carvings, the series has set a new benchmark for historical set design in Bollywood through its authenticity and grandeur. The mimicked Kothas reflect the story of the lives of the courtesans that occupied them. The vibrance of the bazaars comes through with accurately detailing the shop fronts, existing colours, and sounds that connect to the historical authenticity. 

“There are very few filmmakers who really actually weave architecture and value it so much”. said Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

From three-pointed arches to cinquefoil arches, and jali design patterns to materiality and colour palettes, every detail had been researched thoroughly before integrating details into the set design. The opulence and sensuality, infused with the spectacular cast form the heart of the narrative of Heeramandi. 

Beyond the bazaars

The set showcases rich heritage, arts and crafts of the bygone era through the design of the Khwabgaah, a magnificent white mosque, an expansive courtyard, a dancing hall, water fountains, a colonial-style room, roads, shops, and a hammam, all completed in perfection.

“The grandeur, the beauty, the story, the drama, there’s so much of heart in it.”, said actress Manisha Koirala. 

The role of lighting in Heeramandi enhances not only the scene but also the characters’ dialogue. The interplay of light and shadow with the warmth of the lanterns and oil lamps or the superiority of the rowed chandeliers, add to the overall strategic placement of lights that add essence to the ambience. The lighting design complements the set design creating an immersive experience while enhancing intimacy through its warm-moody lighting.

A tapestry of time 

Bollywood period drama sets are mesmerizing crafted sets. More than just a backdrop setting, they transport the audience to a different era. Renowned for its lavish sets depicting historical periods, Bollywood showcases meticulous and opulent decor in havelis, palaces, kothas, etc. 

Beyond mere aesthetics, the sets contribute to the narrative and complement the actors. Heeramandi masterfully showcases the work of skilled craftsmen and Indian artisans through the awe-inspiring set design delivered. Built with excellence to this scale, it is truly celebrated. 

As we know, a success story usually bears difficulties along the way, and producing Heeramandi came with its set of challenges. While extensive research and development took a long duration, balancing fiction and fact to produce a compelling narrative while staying true to its essence, took deliberate effort.

With the significant scale and complexity, procuring authentic material to capture minute details was logistically challenging. While the spectacular cast went through hours of shooting the same scenes, they also mastered the language and dialect of the era, adding authenticity to their performances.

The success of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, lies in its raw ability to immerse the audience into a bygone era made possible by its skillful direction, shining cast, and unparalleled craftsmanship in set design.

The series elevates the standards of historical drama and Bollywood set design into a transformative and immersive power of vision and dedication set to aspiring execution. As a testament to cinematic set design, the complementing artistry and cast have set a benchmark to achieve for future dramas.

Sources

• https://www.designpataki.com/on-the-sets-of-heeramandi-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-largest-set-production/
• https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/ott/heeramandi-shooting-location-vs-real-place-and-history-2533815
• https://www.admiddleeast.com/story/set-tour-heeramandi-with-sanjay-leela-bhansali-bollywoods-most-expensive-netflix-series-yet
• https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/exclusive-ad-visits-the-world-of-heeramandi-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-biggest-set-production/&usg=AOvVaw2xvIi10ZBIUaE8ll57DLDc&cs=1&hl=en-US
• https://youtu.be/H98GuTO1OZM?si=lrfdXh9qCDsuw8Gj