MUMBAI: The casting of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's niece Sharmin Segal in the recently launched Netflix series, Heeramandi, brought back the conversation about nepotism. It stars well-known actresses like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Shekhar Suman, and Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin, the daughter of Bella Bhansali and Deepak Segal, plays the part of Alamzeb in the series.

(Also read: Exclusive! Fardeen Khan is going to play THIS role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi?)

Sharmin has been the target of criticism for "holding the same expression" throughout the show, while Manisha, Sonakshi, and Aditi have been showered with praise for their strong performances. According to some online content, "nepotism got her this role." Sharmin has disabled comments on her most recent social media post, which included a picture of her posing with Sanjay Leela Bhansali at the Heeramandi premiere in Los Angeles, due to the continuous hate she has been receiving.

Sharmin made her acting debut with Bhansali’s production ‘Malaal’ in 2019. The film co-starred Meezan Jafri. Having closely worked with Bhansali as an assistant director on projects like Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sharmin went on to star in the horror comedy ‘Atithi Bhooto Bhava’.

In a recent interview with the popular news portal, Sharmin addressed the claims about her uncle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, being “short-tempered”. She appeared to hit back at Heeramandi co-star Shekhar Suman who called Bhansali “perfectionists who are always short-tempered.”

“It’s the kind of a word that an outsider who has never worked with him, been on his set and seen the kind of director that he is will use. He adapts to change very well. He likes challenging himself with different things. For him it’s not about being perfect,” she said.

Talking about the decision taken by Bhansali's team to work extra hours on the Heeramandi sets, she revealed, “That goes unnoticed on most sets. But on Sanjay sir’s set, people are willing to extend their shifts beyond twelve hours by two-three more hours. They do it out of respect for him and for what he’s creating. I don’t see this happening anywhere else. That’s why, I think boiling him down to a ‘temperamental perfectionist’ is a bit basic.”

(Also read: Exclusive! Fardeen Khan is going to play THIS role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi?)

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Credit-News 18