Sanjay Leela Bhansali On Niece Sharmin Segal’s Performance In Heeramandi: ‘She Kept Saying Mama…’

Sharmin Segal’s performance in Heeramandi still a hot topic

Weeks after the release of the web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, actress Sharmin Segal is still being talked about, but not necessarily for the reasons she’d hoped. Since the show premiered, she’s faced criticism, online mockery, and even memes about her acting, especially her facial expressions.

While her co-stars have shown their support, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who happens to be Sharmin’s uncle, has now spoken out in her defense. He revealed that during filming, Sharmin seemed unsure about how to play her character, Alamzeb.

In an interview, Bhansali said Sharmin kept saying things like, “Uncle, I should play it down more,” to which he replied, “Play it down? Do you think I want you to exaggerate everything?”

Bhansali went on to praise the younger generation of actors, including Sharmin. He said they show him a lot of respect and dedication on set, constantly asking things like, “Are you happy with it? Should we do another take? Are you alright?” He said this kind of passion is rare to find.

Bhansali also talked about another actress in the show, Manisha Koirala. The two previously worked together on the film Khamoshi: The Musical. After 15 years, Bhansali offered Koirala the role of Mallikajaan in Heeramandi..

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A post shared by Manisha Koirala (@m_koirala)

Bhansali spoke highly of Koirala’s commitment. He explained that for her role, she had to wear elaborate henna designs (mehendi) that took seven hours to apply each day. Even though it was uncomfortable, she would come to set, film two scenes, go home, have the henna reapplied for another seven hours, and then return for two more scenes the next day. Despite the hassle, Bhansali said she delivered her best performances in those limited takes. He particularly mentioned a scene where she says a specific line, and he knew right away that she had perfectly captured the emotion of the moment.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is available to watch on Netflix. The show features a large cast, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, and many more.