Sanjay Leela Bhansali Sets The Record Straight On Casting Sharmin Segal In Heeramandi, “She Had To Go Through The Grind”

It has been three weeks since Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi series was released on Netflix. The courtesan period drama stars Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Fardeen Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Shekhar Suman, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Taha Shah Badussha, Adhyayan Suma and Sharmin Segal. The series received mixed reactions. However, Sharmin is one actress who got trolled a lot.

In Heeramandi, Sharmin Segal plays Alamzeb, Manisha Koirala’s Mallikajaan’s daughter. Many people slammed Sharmin for her “expressionless” acting and even trolled her for bagging the role for being Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece. Now, SLB has opened up on casting Sharmin in his show.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali On Sharmin Segal

In an interview, Sanjay Leela Bhansali defended Sharmin Segal’s casting. The Gangubai Kathiawadi director said, “She has a face which is exactly what Alamzeb should be, somebody who doesn’t want to be a tawaif, she doesn’t talk like a tawaif, she doesn’t walk like a tawaif. Her face had innocence, whereas all the others had lived life; they had survived manipulation and mental games. You needed somebody with a fresh, innocent quality to her… I felt that Sharmin was the right choice for Alam not because she’s my niece.”