Filmmaker Nikhil Advani says he is looking forward to seeing Sanjay Leela Bhansali at the Emmys next year for Heeramandi

Filmmaker Nikhil Advani , who has directed films like ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ and many others, has claimed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's ‘ Heeramandi ’ will become a worldwide hit. He continued by saying that he could see Bhansali attending the Golden Globes next year for his web series.


During an interview with Film Companion, Nikhil talked about what the Indian diaspora expects from Indian content and mentioned that they still enjoy watching stories based on mythology .

“I have been shooting in places like Khejarla, Patiala, the amount of exposure that the audience in India has to the West, I don’t think Indian diaspora has. What they want to watch is the mythos. They still want their children to go to Bhagvad Geeta classes. So when they suddenly see a big film, with a big Indian actor challenging that, they reject it,” he said.


When asked about Indian OTT shows that are trying to break into the global market, Nikhil brought up the Korean show Squid Game and said that so far, none of the Indian shows have achieved that level of global success . But he added that Heeramandi has the potential to be that hit from India.

In response to a question on Indian OTT shows attempting to enter the international market, Nikhil mentioned the Korean series ‘Squid Game’. He said that none of the Indian shows had yet achieved the same degree of success abroad. But he added that ‘Heeramandi’ has the potential to be that Indian hit.


He said, “Why are we not doing Squid Games numbers? People who are watching Family Man are there, it’s there on your platform, it’s there on your service. I think what will break everything is Heeramandi, globally. After Padmaavat the Indian diaspora was doing ghoomar in San Francisco.”

Nikhil supported his views by stating that many Western nations continue to view India through the lens of an exotic place full of snake charmers, which is the stereotype that the world has of India. He further added that SS Rajamouli's ‘RRR’, which portrayed India as an exotic land, solidified this perception.


“Now, the West will watch because what is it that we have? We have snake charmers and elephants, right? Unfortunately, we have been the country of snake charmers. But foreigners want that only. They still come in for exotica. RRR was an exotica,” Nikhil said.

Nikhil believes Netflix will help Heeramandi become more well-known worldwide. “I am looking forward to seeing Bhansali at the Golden Globes and Emmys next year. I think what Monica (Shergill) and the company did with RRR, they will do with Heeramandi,” he said.


Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is an upcoming period drama web series that revolves around the lives of courtesans in the Heera Mandi district. It is set against the backdrop of the independence movement during the British Raj.

The grandeur that is synonymous with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work can be seen in ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. The film has an ensemble cast comprising Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chaddha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.