Actor Sharmin Segal, the niece of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, debuted on OTT with ‘Heeramandi’. While her performance received mixed reviews, facing criticism and nepotism allegations, Sharmin maintained a positive outlook.
On May 13, Sharmin shared a glimpse of her ‘Heeramandi’ journey on Instagram, thanking her co-stars and the team for their support. She posted behind-the-scenes photos, expressing gratitude for the memories made over three years.
She wrote, ‘#heeramandi BTS! Soo many memories made in the last 3 years! It is impossible to fit it all into one post! So many people that have been so supportive and kind. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this very special project love youu all!’
Sharmin's Instagram post showcased special moments with her ‘Heeramandi’ co-stars. She shared enjoying pizza with Sonakshi Sinha, praised Farida Jalal's energy, and celebrated the sisterhood with Aditi Rao Hydari and Manisha Koirala.
In response to criticism of her Heeramandi performance, Sharmin Segal discussed on a BBC Asian Network podcast the pressure she faces and how it sometimes manifests strangely. She credited her sister, who was also an assistant director on the show, as her strongest support system, providing outlets for her to vent.
She said, ‘There is a lot of pressure and sometimes it manifests in weird ways. But I have a really good support system. I think my strongest support system is my sister. She also happened to be an assistant director on the show. So, it worked out in a way where I do have my outlets where I can vent.’
‘In my personal life, I am secure enough today to come home to my husband and put everything that I have done at work aside. But I am not that person who’s gonna constantly put that much pressure on it. Yes, I do want to prove myself; but today I am also a realist in that way. We live in a world of 1.7 billion people, in India itself (this is a figure Sharmin got wrong during the chat. As per UN data from last year, India’s population is around 1.4 billion). After all, how many people’s opinions are you gonna shape or have control over,’ she added.
‘Heeramandi’, set in Lahore's pre-partition red-light district, delves into the intricate power dynamics among courtesans, Nawabs, and British officers. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
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