Any Sanjay Leela Bhansali project is cause for celebration – the filmmaker who has given us films like Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani and Black had previously announced that he is making a film on the iconic Gangubai Kothewali. The film tells the story of Gangubai who was one of the most feared and renowned madams of a brothel in Kamathipura.

Also Read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Faces Heat Due To Gangubai Kathiawadi

According to media reports, the star director is personally casting for Heera Mandi and is considering ace actors like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Manisha Koirala for the project.

Heera Mandi is also set to be SLB’s first collaboration with the streaming giant, Netflix and the project is expected to go on floors in the first half of 2021.

According to Filmfare, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is also working on a web-series with Richa Chadha as the lead.

“It’s a period drama rooted in a chapter of Indian history, with Bhansali sir serving as the creator and showrunner. Usually, tentpole projects are commissioned by streaming giants. But here, the filmmaker is said to be making it independently after which he will sell it to an OTT platform. The script is being developed while Bhansali sir zeroes in on the two male leads. Richa, who is keen to portray the female lead, has yet to sign on the dotted line,” Filmfare quotes a source as saying.

Gangubai Kathiawadi was scheduled to be released in theatres on September 2020 but was pushed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, it was reported that India’s favourite desi girl, Priyanka Chopra was set to star as the titular character in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film but she was replaced by Bhatt in 2019. Shooting for the film wrapped up in the last week of November this year and this film is perhaps the only one that will make people flock to theatres.

Also Read: Shahid Kapoor Walks Out Of Dharma Productions’ Film?