Netflix and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s show Heeramandi is about a group of women going through different conflicts. However, some similar kind of conflict emerged when two of the actresses were seen together in an interview. Sharmin Segal got into an argument with Aditi Rao Hydari when they both were talking about actors and actresses’ insecurities.
In the now-viral clip, Sharmin said, “Actor ki jaat insecure hoti hai." Aditi disagreed with her comment and interjected, “Nahi but actors are human beings." Sharmin continued, “If you’re not insecure, I mean, let’s leave Sona out of this because Sona is the most secure person I know. But genuinely, insecurity main bhi koi jaadu hoti hai."
“If you are not insecure then you’re not pushing yourself to a certain limit. Insecurity main maza hai," Sharmin said. No no, insecurity is horrible. No, I don’t like it." Aditi and Sonakshi’s expressions have gone viral on social media.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar absolutely exemplifies the changing roles of women in cinema. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a master at crafting powerful characters, and Heeramandiis no exception. Bhansali’s storytelling has inherent power because of the way he shapes his character and settings - not just the visual settings and the visual feasts he creates - it’s the power of the character in his stories that shine.
Right from Mallikajaan, Fareedan, Bibbojaan, Waheeda, to Lajjo and Alamzeb - the characters in the story are where you feel the muscle of the storytelling. By shining a light on the lives of courtesans in pre-colonial India, the series delves into women’s experiences that are often untold. Bhansali ’s signature attention to detail brings these women’s stories of love, betrayal, and resilience to life in a beautifully nuanced way.