Sanjay Leela Bhansali ventured into the OTT space with his highly-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. One unexpected outcome of the show was the spotlight cast on his niece, Sharmin Segal, who plays Alamzeb in the gilded series. Sharmin Segal was put on the chopping block for her “expressionless” acting and “monotone” delivery. Now, casting director Shruti Mahajan has jumped to Sharmin’s defence.
Shruti told India Today, “You can’t please everyone. Also, given the field that we are in, there are all kinds of feedback. One has to take it all with a pinch of salt and move on. You have to keep working on your craft and continue to give your 100 per cent. It’s a packaged deal, and one has to move on. We know what we have done, and the hard work we’ve put in, and one has to respect that. As for criticism, I think one learns to take it in their stride, just as we take in love.”
Speaking about the narrative of casting star kids over other actors, Shruti said, “You cannot take things like this personally. Casting is purely done based on the script and the director’s vision. We only want actors who can enhance the project. And ultimately, it all boils down to what the audience expects from that project. I have not learnt to cast from a school but honed my skills over a period of time.”
“I am a self-proclaimed movie buff. I always cast as an audience, someone who you would like to watch in that part. Sometimes it’s a larger-than-life film, at times you want gritty performances. I think when a project is well received, that’s the end of such discussions. Also, one needs to understand it’s a movie business. The more one project works, the more we can produce,” she said.
When asked if the criticism around an actor’s casting makes her doubt her choices, she said, “It’s a learning process. I never question it, but I do learn from every film and every director. There’s a new script, new energy, new understanding, new vision… It’s always a process, and you just get better with time.”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi was released on Netflix on May 1. Its stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha and Sharmin Segal in the lead. It also features Farheen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman in key roles.
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