Heeramandi is a special project for Richa Chadha as it reunites her with Sanjay Leela Bhansali after 11 years. It also made Chadha intimately familiar with another cinematic legend—the late Meena Kumari. Since Bhansali’s maiden web series tells the story of courtesans in Lahore, the creator recommended that she turn to Sahibjaan, Kumari’s iconic character from Pakeezah (1972), for inspiration.