Fardeen Khan reveals he was rejected by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the early 2000s

Fardeen Khan is making a comeback in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming web show Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Fardeen has been out of the circuit for more than a decade and his role as Wali Mohammed in the show has already been the talk of the town. The actor is collaborating with Bhansali for the first time. However, Fardeen has revealed that he had wanted to work with the master storyteller much earlier - only to be rejected by the filmmaker.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Fardeen revealed he approached Bhansali for work in the 2000s, but the director felt he lacked passion.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali rejected Fardeen Khan earlier

In a recent interview, Fardeen was told that Sanjay had written a small role for him in Black (2005). However, it couldn't materialise. Fardeen said he had no idea and that it was news to him.

"You know I am going to narrate a story that I reminded Sanjay sir when I went to meet him for Wali Mohammed (Fardeen's character in Heeramandi). I had gone to his office in the early 2000s to seek work. Obviously to get the opportunity to work with him. He met with me, we sat, we spoke for about 10-15 minutes. Then he said, 'You know Fardeen I don't think we can work because I don't see that fire in your eyes'," Fardeen recalled.

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Fardeen added, "At that time, of course, it felt brutal, and I told him this time that even if that sounded brutal at the time, that's exactly what I wanted to hear, I needed to hear rather. I thanked him for it. He never told me about wanting to cast me in Black. I am hearing it for the first time. But just to have this chance to be able to work with a master craftsman like him, I am extremely grateful for it. It's been a wonderful learning experience. It has enriched me on many levels."

More about Heeramandi

Heeramandi is based on the lives of a group of courtesans in pre-independent India. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hyadri, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Sharmin Segal in the lead roles. Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman also feature in the show. Heeramandi will mark Bhansali's debut in OTT and is one of the biggest shows that Netflix India has produced this year.