Farida Jalal on Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal: “Maybe that’s her capacity”

Farida Jalal calls for kindness towards Sharmin Segal amidst criticism of her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic series Heeramandi.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

June 7, 2024 - 6:16 PM IST

Farida Jalal has recently spoken out in defence of her Heeramandi co-star, Sharmin Segal, who has faced criticism for her performance in the series. In the show, Farida portrayed Taha Shah Badussha's grandmother and worked closely with Segal. During a recent interaction, Farida expressed her disappointment over the harsh feedback Sharmin has received and urged people to be kinder and more understanding.

Farida Jalal on Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal: “Maybe that’s her capacity”

Farida remarked in an interview with India Today, “I know, I am not happy about this. Be kind. What her capacity as an actor is, she has done her best. I don’t feel the character needs to be very boisterous and loud; the role was not like that. What were you expecting? Yes, what you thought you needed… It’s ok, why should we be mean to the girl? Be kind, maybe that’s her capacity, just that much. I don’t think the real role was boisterous, it wasn’t. She is a shayara, she falls in love with my bacchha (Taha Shah’s character) and that’s it.”

Sharmin faced criticism from a segment of the audience, who labelled her performance as 'expressionless' and questioned her casting in the role. Some viewers suggested that Aditi Rao Hydari would have been a better fit for the character of Alamzeb. Responding to these criticisms, Aditi Rao Hydari defended Sharmin in an interview with Puja Talwar. “100%. It's horrible to pick on anybody. I know some people like something, and some people don't. There is a way to say it. It can get very mean. It has gotten very mean, and I think it's not fair and it shouldn't happen like that. I don't know what else to say but I do feel bad. I think we should all understand it and be there for each other.”

Other cast members, including Richa Chadha and Shekhar Suman, have also shown support for Sharmin. Adhyayan Suman, while maintaining a neutral stance, emphasized the importance of accepting feedback and advised Sharmin to engage with critics. He mentioned, “It's important to accept any sort of reality and not live in a bubble,” and encouraged her to seek feedback for improvement.

Heeramandi, set against the backdrop of pre-partition India in the red-light district of Lahore, explores the lives of courtesans amidst the power struggles between Nawabs and British officers during the Indian independence movement. The series marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT debut and features a star-studded cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, and Fardeen Khan. Available for streaming on Netflix, Heeramandi has been renewed for a second season, promising more drama and intrigue.

Also Read: Richa Chadha comes in defence of Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal amid trolling: “It can affect someone’s mental health”