Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi Secures Two Nominations At 2024 Busan Film Festival: 'Its An Honor'

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, directed by the visionary Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has made a significant impact, earning two prestigious nominations at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival. The limited series, set against the rich backdrop of pre-independence Lahore, is nominated for Best OTT Original and Best Original Song for ‘Sakal Ban” at the 29th edition of the festival’s Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has even more reason to celebrate, as ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ stands out as the only Indian title nominated at this global event, and in two highly competitive categories. Expressing his joy, Bhansali said, “It’s an honor to be nominated for the Asia Contents Awards. I’m grateful to the jury and the audiences for this incredible recognition.”

The awards ceremony is set to take place on October 6, 2024, at the Busan Theatre of the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea. With this achievement, Netflix continues its winning streak at the Busan Film Festival, following last year’s success with Hansal Mehta’s ‘Scoop’. In total, Netflix has garnered an impressive 23 nominations at the festival this year.

“Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is a powerful narrative that delves into the lives of courtesans who held sway like queens in Lahore before India’s independence. The series features a stellar cast, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Sharmin Segal in leading roles, with strong support from Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah, Jason Shah, Jayati Bhatia, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman.

This project marks Bhansali’s debut in the OTT space, where he not only directed but also composed the music, adding an emotional depth that resonates throughout the series. Available on Netflix, ‘Heeramandi’ quickly became a major hit, topping viewership charts with 4.5 million views and 33 million viewing hours in its first week. It also claimed the No. 1 spot on the top 10 trending charts across 43 countries.

Following this success, the creators are already planning a second season, promising to delve even deeper into the rich, dramatic world of ‘Heeramandi’.