Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s OTT debut with ‘Heeramandi’ initially surprised Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, who perceived it as an audacious challenge from a cinematic legend. Bhansali’s insistence on grand, real-life sets brought an old-world charm to the series, reflecting India’s deep love for cinema. The series, starring Manisha Koirala and others, explores the lives of courtesans in pre-partition Lahore.