Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar premiered on Wednesday, said his casting choices kept changing over the years since this was a concept he conceived 18 years ago.

During a discussion after screening of the film at The Egyptian theatre in Los Angeles, Bhansali said he originally planned to cast Rekha, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. He added he also kept Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Imran Abbas under consideration for roles in the series.

However, the director expressed contentment with the current cast featuring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Taha Shah, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman

Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Sharmin Segal.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a series set pre-independent India against the backdrop of the freedom movement and tells the story of courtesans, nawabs and the British and the tussle for power amongst them.

The series premiered today.