Director Shekhar Kapur recently expressed his admiration for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Praising the series on his X account, Kapur hailed Bhansali’s work. He also applauded the immersive quality of the director’s visual storytelling.
Shekhar Kapur calls Heeramandi ‘Seductive’
Taking to his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, Kapur described Bhansali’s work as seductive, stating, “He pulls you into his world and mesmerizes you. His images stayed with me long after I binge-watched the whole of #Heeramandi in one go, and what an effective performance by Manisha Koirala, @mkoirala.” Kapur also praised the streaming platform Netflix, noting, “Finally, #Netflix is giving Indian filmmakers the budgets they deserve.”
Despite Kapur’s commendations, the new series has received a varied response from the online community. Some viewers criticize the show for its presentation and thematic choices. One user pointed out, “Few films (series) more like this, Netflix will go bankrupt. Though his craft is unique, the world has moved past Heeramandi.” Another stated, “With all due respect, I disagree here with you, sir! SLB is a great filmmaker but this one lacks the grip.”
Others have commented on the execution and thematic content, suggesting a mismatch between the cinematic flair and substance. “I found it completely bland and somehow every character is struggling to put up with SLB’s stature,” said one viewer, while another mentioned, “Nothing but superficial gloss! Very poor content!” Additionally, concerns were raised about the series’ focus on the world of brothels and forced prostitution.
Despite these critiques, Bhansali remains open to feedback. Speaking to Indie Wire, he acknowledged the divided reception, stating, “There are things in the characters that connect to people in my work. That is why they talk about it. A lot of people like it, a lot of people don’t like it. It’s a part of a give-and-take with an audience and filmmaker. I don’t mind being loved when they give me love, and I don’t mind quite being criticized when they don’t connect to my work.”
