Whatever Netflix — like any other big media company — does, it does it big. And, so the launch of the trailer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama ‘Heeramandi’ in New Delhi yesterday evening was as opulent as the series.

Part of the ballroom of a five-star hotel in the Capital was turned into a street from yesteryears pre-independent India with a bookshop, lamppost (that played ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ or Long Live Revolution when one stood underneath it), gajra selling shop and much more. In short: a pre-Independent country look where ‘tawaifs’ (sex workers), love, passion, betrayal and calls for freedom from British rule melted together to form a heady broth.

No wonder one of the characters of ‘Heeramandi’ or The Diamond Bazar says: ‘azaadi (freedom from British rule) ek gahna hai’ — freedom is a cherished ornament.

The capital event was attended by some of the who’s who of Delhi, including senior government officials. The main cast of ‘Heeramandi’, including Manisha Koirala (who last worked with show creator Bhansali almost 28 years back for a riveting film ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’), Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Shekhar Suman, Fardeen Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Adhyayan Suman, were present to the delight of the audience.

Later, in a media statement Netflix said offering a spectacular glimpse into the world, every frame of  ‘Heeramandi’ is steeped in intrigue, passion, and drama. The show will debut on May 1.

The thrilling trailer transports viewers to the sizzling district of ‘Heeramandi’, where the one and only Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala) rules over an elite house of courtesans or tawaifs. She schemes, fearing no one — until the return of her late nemesis (Fardeen Khan)’s daughter, Sonakshi Sinha. It brings tensions in the house to a boil. Outside, the city is also roiling, with revolutionaries demanding India’s freedom from British rule, with Bibbojaan (Aditi Rao Hydari), one of Mallikajaan’s daughters, joining the fight for freedom.

Meanwhile, Mallikajaan’s youngest, Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal), dreams of love with the son of a nawab (nobleman), Tajdar (Taha Shah Badussha), and yearns to break out of ‘Heeramandi’.

As betrayal mounts and forbidden desires clash with societal norms, the struggle for pre-independent India’s freedom comes to a boiling point. That, in short, is what ‘Heeramandi’ is all about.

Monika Shergill, Netflix India VP of Content and Prerna Singh, CEO, Bhansali Productions, were present at the trailer launch as was Netflix’s Tanya Bami.

Though director Bhansali was unable to attend the Delhi event, in a statement he said, “This is a story of love, power, freedom, and extraordinary women, their desires, and struggles. It marks a new milestone in my journey. In Netflix, we found the ideal partner — one who not only shares our love for storytelling but also possesses the unparalleled capability to bring our series to the most diverse and global audience imaginable.”

Shergill added, “We’re preparing to unveil our grandest endeavor yet: ‘Heeramandi’. This series, akin to all of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s exquisite creations, is a work of art, offering a stunning visual experience and a visceral world with unforgettable characters. As his first long format series, Sanjay Leela Bhansali creates an immersive world of powerful and universal emotions that will mesmerize audiences across India and around the globe!”

‘Heeramandi’ India’s Answer to ‘Narcos’, ‘Squid Game‘?: As the ambitious period drama has the potential to travel beyond domestic borders, it has the potential to be India’s ‘Narocs’ or ‘Squid Game’, said actor Richa Chadha, according to a PTI report from New Delhi.

This is Chadha’s second collaboration with Bhansali and the actor, who plays a courtesan named Lajjo, was full of praise for the director’s vision.

”This show truly has the potential to travel outside the borders of India because in a sense, if you go with Bollywood extravaganza, the first name that pops up is the creator of the show. This would be a great offering from India or the Indian subcontinent to the world.

”Few shows of Netflix that have travelled like ‘Narcos’ and ‘Squid Game’ from Mexico and South Korea, this is going to be one of those,” she said, adding that to be in a frame created by Bhansali is a dream for any budding actor who travels to Mumbai.

Both ‘Narcos’ and ‘Squid Game’ are shows that are amongst Netflix’s most watched series not only in their country of origin — Colombia and South Korea — but also around the world.

Recalling how Bhansali has been fond of her since they worked as a producer-actor on ‘Rowdy Rathore’, Sonakshi said they have been meaning to collaborate for a long time but nothing worked out before ‘Heeramandi’.

”I am so happy that it happened with ‘Heeramandi’ because the role he got me, nothing can top it. I feel truly blessed that a director has seen me like nobody ever saw me before and presented me to the world like nobody has done before,” she said, according to the PTI report.

Prerna Singh, CEO of Bhansali Productions, said they found comfort in the streamer. She also praised Bhansali for his ”radical casting” in the show that also features Fardeen Khan, father-son duo Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman as well as Taha Shah in key roles.

Khan, who plays Nawab Wali Mohammed in the show and returns to acting after 14 years, said he was ”extremely grateful” for the opportunity. His last film outing was 2010’s ‘Dulha Mil Gaya’.

Shekhar Suman called ‘Heeramandi’ a ”unique and beautiful gift” and compared Bhansali to the likes of K Asif and Kamal Amrohi, the directors behind Hindi cinema classics such as ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ and ‘Pakeezah’, respectively. These are the films that Bhansali has often quoted as inspirations for ‘Heeramandi’. Shekhar plays the megalomaniac Nawab Zulifiqar in the series.