Ten years of Netflix in India have been shaped by stories that travelled far beyond their place of origin. Among them is Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, which unlocked a new milestone in localisation as the first Indian series to be dubbed in 14 languages. The series became Netflix’s biggest Indian drama series to date, with 15 million views and a Top 10 ranking in 43 countries, demonstrating how thoughtful localisation can help Indian stories resonate with audiences around the world. Behind every dubbed version was a voice artist whose job wasn’t simply to translate dialogue, but to preserve the emotion, beauty and cultural richness of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s world.
Bringing Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar to audiences around the world meant much more than translating dialogue. Every dubbed performance had to retain the emotion, grace and cultural richness of the original, while feeling completely natural to viewers in another language. The result was a collaboration between artists across the world, each adding their own voice while staying true to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s vision.
For Indian actor and dubbing artist Sahil Vaid, who voiced Ashfaq Baloch in English, the experience was deeply personal. While recording the character, he found himself reconnecting with stories he had grown up hearing at home. “The world felt familiar because I’ve encountered it in the stories by my grandparents who happen to be from Lahore. I voiced Ashfaq in English, and I believed I saw my father in him. Every father is alike, that’s the beauty of fatherhood. I think it will resonate with all father-son relationships out there.”
For French voice artist Stephanie Lafforgue, who voiced Mallikajaan, the unfamiliar setting became the very reason the story felt universal. “It provides an alternate perspective of the world and women from a different region and time period.”
German dubbing artist Katharina Spiering, who voiced Fareedan, found that while the world of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was visually spectacular, its emotional themes were instantly recognisable. “It’s opulently filmed, takes us to another world and yet deals with themes that are familiar to us all – love, the desire for power, dealing with betrayal, and last but not the least, female solidarity and freedom.”
For Thai dubbing artist Sopita Rangsiyothai, who voiced Mallikajaan, the opportunity was about introducing audiences in Thailand to a filmmaker whose stories have long travelled across cultures. “I feel historical films across countries are interesting. People tend to care a lot about the past and the future due to the enjoyment of exploration.”
These stories offer a glimpse into the invisible craft behind localisation. Every dubbed performance is the result of an artist carefully interpreting emotion, culture and performance so that audiences can experience the story as it was intended, regardless of the language they choose to watch it in.
As Netflix continues to bring stories from every corner of India, localisation will remain a key part of that journey. Whether it’s through thoughtful dubbing, authentic voice casting or making stories available in more languages than ever before, the ambition remains the same: to ensure that a story rooted in one culture can find a home with audiences everywhere.