Heeramandi - Richa Chadha sought inspiration from THIS legendary actress' iconic character for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series

Richa Chadha is awaiting the release of her much-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The actress plays the role of a courtesan, Lajjo, in the show, which will premiere on Netflix. Before Heeramandi's release, it was revealed that Richa Chadha sought inspiration from the late legendary actress Meena Kumar's iconic character, Sahibjaan, in Pakeezah. Richa spoke to Mid-Day about studying Meena Kumari's character from the 1972 film.

Richa Chadha takes inspiration from Meena Kumari for Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

A source informed the tabloid that Richa Chadha watched multiple interviews of Meena Kumar and noted how she explained her craft. There was almost 50 hours of footage, which included the late actor's interviews and biographers talking about her. KumarI's biographies, which provided insight into her work, were an important reference point for Richa.

Further, Richa said, "Studying Meena Kumariji’s character in Pakeezah was a transformative experience for me. There is a certain depth and complexity to Sahibjaan that [is true of] Lajjo as well. I worked on the voice and diction while studying Meenaji’s work, sometimes to the point of imitation. It was an honour to pay tribute to the legend."

Also read: Heeramandi trailer reaction - ‘Absolutely speechless,’ say netizens about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s OTT debut

Richa Chadha credits Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar for THIS reason

Earlier, speaking with the same tabloid, Richa Chadha revealed how Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar put her back in touch with the classical dance form of Kathak. She also said that months of practice were required for the show's dance sequences. "Preparing for the dance sequences in Heeramandi was a labour of love. Months of dedicated practice were essential to ensuring that every step was executed with precision," she added.

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Created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Heeramandi is all set to premiere on Netflix on May 1, 2024. How excited are you about watching the show? Tweet @ottplayapp on X.

Also read: Fardeen Khan on returning to screens after 14 years with Heeramandi - 'Couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity'