Richa Chadha is enjoying the success of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, currently streaming on Netflix. The actress recently shared insights about her experience working with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his grand sets and exacting standards.
Working on Bhansali’s Noisy and Chaotic Sets
Richa Chadha described the unique atmosphere on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s sets, noting the constant activity and noise due to the large number of crew members present. She mentioned that an average of 100-150 people work on his sets, including the art director’s team, costume team, and lighting team. The actor said, “His sets always have a lot of people because they are grand. There are a lot of setting people, a lot of people from the art director’s team who look after the candles, the curtains. On average, there are 100-150 people on his set.”
The Silent Command of Bhansali
Despite the chaos, Richa noted how the atmosphere changes when Bhansali arrives on set. His presence commands silence and attention, which she found impressive. “What I like about his set is that there is a lot of chaos, but when he comes, there is a silent feeling like somebody is here and everybody gets to working,” she shared. Richa appreciated Bhansali’s high standards and his refusal to settle for anything less than perfect, even if it means re-shooting scenes.
Bhansali’s Dedication to Perfection
Richa Chadha recounted how Bhansali made her do 99 takes for a single shot, highlighting his commitment to excellence. She expressed admiration for his dedication to achieving the best from his actors and crew. “He has a very high standard for himself that he will re-shoot something if he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t settle for sure,” Richa said, emphasizing Bhansali’s pursuit of perfection in his filmmaking process.
Gratitude for the Heeramandi Team
Richa recently took to social media to express her gratitude to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the Heeramandi team. She shared photos from the set and praised the contributions of the makeup, hair, lighting, costume, and jewelry teams. “It’s been a month since the premiere, surreal. Contrary to Lajjo’s grief, I was always cracking up and happy on set! I am grateful that your hands beautified me,” Richa wrote, acknowledging the collective effort required to bring her character to life.