Sanjay Leela Bhansali's passion project 'Heera Mandi' is having an insane casting phase. The show requires more than a dozen of mainstream actresses for the main cast and it'd be interesting to see how Bhansali pulls this off. Latest buzz suggests that actress Juhi Chawla has also joined the cast.

A source close to the development told a news outlet, "Heeramandi will see a total of 18 female actors which includes Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Nimrat Kaur, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Diana Penty. Juhi Chawla will be joining the cast as she will be seen playing an important cameo in the eight-episode web series. The actress met Bhansali and immediately agreed to do the role. She will soon be starting her shoot."

The source also confirmed that the show is indeed a period drama set in Lahore. The source stated, "The original Heeramandi was based in Lahore and was earlier referred as Shahi Mohalla. Before the courtesans started occupying the place and practice mujra, it housed several attendants and servants of the Mughal Empire. Bhanasli plans to show Heermandi as a sacred place for learning music and dance. The show will focus on the clash between two gharanas (houses) of geet sangeet. The story travels from Lahore to Mumbai."