Heeramandi Co-Director Defends Sharmin Segal's Acting: ‘Alamzeb Is A Child Who Writes Poetry’

Heeramandi Co-director Snehil Dixit Mehra claims to understand Sharmin Segal's character.

Sharmin Segal was being trolled for her performance in 'Heeramandi'.

Source : Instagram/@bhansaliproductions

New Delhi: Ever since ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ premiered on Netflix, audiences have been critical of Sharmin Segal's performance in the series. The actress portrayed the character of 'Alamzeb' who is the daughter of a courtesan. Her scenes and expressionless dialogue delivery have become a topic of internet memes. Now, the co-director of ‘Heeramandi’ defended the actress, calling her character “innocent”. Snehil Dixit Mehra has worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the series and she claims to closely experienced Sharmin’s acting.

Despite the trolls, Snehil Dixit thinks Sharmin Segal did a great job in her role. In an exclusive interview with ABPLive, she remarked, “Personally, I feel that the character of Sharmin was something introverted. She is not dirty despite living in Heera Mandi. She is pure. You must have noticed that there was too much white in her clothes because she has not seen the outside world.”

She further explained Alamzeb's character saying, “She is not like Mallika Jaan (Played by Manisha Koirala). Neither, she is like Sonakshi, who wants to take revenge nor is she crazy like Sanjeeda who is hungry for power or Aditi, who has any purpose in her life. She is a child who writes poetry and she feels that I ask my mother to let me become a poet, not knowing what it means to be born in Heera Mandi. So, she played such a character very well and her brief was that.”

Watch Heeramandi’s Co-Director Full Interview Here:

More about ‘Heeramandi’

'Heeramandi' takes place in the pre-Independence era in India. Courtesans in Lahore's seedy underbelly are the focus of this magnum opus. Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sanjeeda Shaikh are all part of the show's star-studded ensemble cast, which should make for an interesting look at the power of 'tawaifs,' as well as love and desire.