Streaming service Netflix has shared the first look of actor Fardeen Khan from the upcoming period drama series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. The show is directed by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and marks his entry into the world of OTT platforms. Alongside the reveal of Fardeen Khan’s character, the character posters of Shekhar Suman, his son Adhyayan Suman, and Taha Shah have also been unveiled. The story of ‘Heeramandi’ is set during the freedom struggle movement in India and is an epic saga exploring themes of love, power, revenge, and freedom.
‘Heeramandi’ stars a stellar cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Sanjeeda Shaikh in lead roles. The show revolves around the cultural reality of the district called ‘Heeramandi’ and delves into the lives of courtesans and their patrons against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s. It is set to be released on May 1 on the Netflix platform.
Fardeen Khan, who returns to acting after a gap of 15 years, plays the character of Wali Mohammed in the series. The 50-year-old actor, known for movies like ‘Jungle’, ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’, ‘Bhoot’, ‘Dev’ and ‘No Entry’, portrays a character caught in a struggle between love and duty. Netflix India described his character as, “Caught in a whirlwind struggle of love and duty, Wali Mohammed attempts to reconcile his heart’s desire with his royal responsibilities. Fardeen Khan makes his spectacular return to the screen as Wali Mohammed.”
Shekhar Suman, who has appeared in movies like ‘Utsav’ and ‘Sansar’ as well as the cult classic comedy series ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, is essaying the role of Zulfikar. As per Netflix, his character lays his allegiance at the feet of Mallikajaan (played by Manisha Koirala) and faces one obstacle in achieving his shimmering ambition- Heeramandi.
Adhyayan Suman, the son of Shekhar Suman, plays the character Zoravar in the series. Adhyayan, known for films such as ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’, ‘Jashn’, and most recently ‘Chup: Revenge of the Artist’, portrays a character who has deep affection for Lajjo (played by Richa Chadha). The character description provided by Netflix reads, “Zoravar’s affection for Lajjo is a scorching embrace where passion burns bright- but when love calls, will he be able to answer?”
Taha Shah, known for his roles in ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ and ‘Luv Ka The End’, portrays the character of Tajdar in ‘Heeramandi’. Tajdar is a nawab’s son torn between tradition and love, who seeks purpose through liberation.
‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is based on the concept by Moin Beg and is created and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who also serves as a producer for the show.
