In an exclusive interview, rising star Sharmin Segal opened up about the criticism she faced for her portrayal of Alamzeb in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s highly anticipated series, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. The actress revealed that she was well-prepared for the audience’s reactions and that the negativity did not significantly impact her mental health.
Segal, who is Bhansali’s niece, acknowledged that while there has been an outpouring of love and support for her performance, the focus has been primarily on the negative responses. “Although there have been many positive reactions, people have chosen to focus on the negative ones,” she shared. “I had poured my heart and soul into Alamzeb’s character.”The actress, who had previously avoided engaging in conversations about her character, realized that she was missing out on the love and support she was receiving from the audience. “There was a time when I was not paying much attention to the reviews, but then I came to understand that I was also missing out on a lot of love that I was getting,” she said.
Segal emphasized the importance of mental health and how she has been working on it for a long time. “I’ve been working on my mental health for a very long time in my life now. It is just not throughout my acting life. It is something when you start understanding yourself better, it becomes a lot easier.”The actress also addressed the criticism head-on, stating, “I can’t fixate on somebody who has taken their time out to write negative things about me. If it’s constructive, then yes I am very open to listening to it but if it’s not, then you’ve to focus on the amount of love.
“Bhansali, who has been known for bringing out the best in his actors, defended Segal’s casting, stating, “She embodies the face of what Alamzeb should be – someone who doesn’t want to be a tawaif or possess the qualities of one. You required someone with a fresh, innocent quality to her, someone who doesn’t speak like a tawaif.
“Segal’s co-stars, including Taha Shah and Aditi Rao Hydari, also came to her defense, with Shah stating, “I have worked with her, and I can vouch for her as an actor. She has given her best,” and Hydari adding, “It’s disheartening to target anyone.”As the audience eagerly awaits the second season of ‘Heeramandi’, Sharmin Segal’s resilience and dedication to her craft have shone through, proving that she is a force to be reckoned with in the world of entertainment.
