Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s most-awaited show–Heeramandi is all set to release on Netflix on May 1, 2024. Celebrating his grandeur and packaging it for the small screen, SLB has replicated the signature aesthetic of his films for the small screen. In conversation with Hauterrfly, actresses Aditi Rao Hydari and Richa Chadha, who play pivotal roles in the show, broke down the aesthetic nuance of SLB’s show and talked about donning heavy costumes, jewellery and vintage embroideries.
Crediting designers Rimple Harpreet who designed the lovely costumes for the show, Aditi Rao Hydari spoke about the experience of wearing such heavy jewellery pieces and performing–”If you’re doing a period piece, it is a given that we will be wearing vintage pieces etc, etc. Also knowing that Sanjay sir is such an aesthete, he will have real jewellery, brocade, real velvet and everything is real. And Rimple Harpreet created some beautiful garments for us. But for me, that was a given, what was more exciting was the emotional depth that we were going into and the fun we were having doing that. So, I do get everybody is so enamoured by the beauty and grandness that he brings, but it also stems from the brain of a human being, whose EQ is so incredible. And it is much more than the beauty.”
Furthermore, actress Richa Chadha spoke about the beauty of every piece and how it goes beyond the visual appearance to the real performances in the show, as she mentioned–”Costumes and jewellery is one part of the job. Also, people who have worked with him, already know these things yes there will be weighted costumes, and as soon as there is a break they rush to take out the jewellery on your hands. I was glad that I didn’t have to wear hair extensions and things that would’ve really killed me in the dance. Looking pretty for this frame is what we’ve grown up watching and heard tales of Madhuri Dixit’s lehenga weight in Devdas, but no one remembers how beautifully she performed. So, everybody remembers the performance at the end of the day.”
Also Read: Exclusive: Richa Chadha Hails Heeramandi Co-Star Manisha Koirala: “She Has No Ego, She Reached Out To Me On Bad Days”
Well, that’s so true. According to reports, Rimple Harpreet designed over 300 costumes for the show and took inspiration from Sikh and Mughal culture fashion to replicate the aesthetic of the 1940s in Heeramandi. Okay, now we can’t wait to watch the show anymore.