Farida Jalal, a veteran actress since the 1960s, made a notable comeback in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut web series ‘Heeramandi‘, where she played the role of Qudsia Begum. She shared that she was in awe of Bhansali’s world when working on the series. However, when the director narrated her first scene, she immediately knew she wouldn’t be comfortable performing it as he had envisioned, and so she refused him on the spot.
In a conversation with Galatta India, Farida recalled her experience working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’. She shared that during the narration of her first scene, Bhansali described her character sitting at a party with a glass of wine and a cigarette. Farida immediately felt uncomfortable, stating, “I froze. Main thandi pad gayi.” She knew she couldn’t perform the scene as envisioned and refused, citing her discomfort with holding a cigarette and wine glass
When Bhansali suggested a scene involving her holding a cigarette and wine glass, she expressed discomfort, saying, “Sir, I have never done this.” Bhansali respected her wishes without discussion, dropping the idea entirely. Farida praised Bhansali’s understanding and professionalism, noting, “He didn’t say a word to me. What a great man!”.
Jalal expressed her satisfaction with her portrayal in ‘Heeramandi’, feeling that if her character had been shown drinking and smoking, it would have blurred the lines between her and the courtesans depicted in the series. She praised Bhansali’s direction, stating that he creates an immersive world that transports actors and viewers into the era. Jalal appreciated Bhansali’s understanding when she refused a scene that made her uncomfortable, noting that she wouldn’t have been true to herself if she had performed it. She enjoyed the experience, going with the flow of Bhansali’s vision.
The second season of ‘Heeramandi’ was announced after its premiere in May 2023, but there have been no updates since. Bhansali is currently working on his film ‘Love and War‘, starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal.
