Jason Shah on Sharmin Segal acting: Sharmin Segal has been a target of backlash and trolling after the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. Sharmin, who plays Alamzeb in the series, has been called expressionless by the netizens. Her co-actors from the series including Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Shekhar Suman and others have supported her and spoken against the trolling. However, actor Jason Shah, who plays Alastair Cartwright in the series, offered a different perspective on the matter. According to Jason, the character of Alamzeb required more emotional depth, which he feels Sharmin did not fully deliver.
Jason Shah on Sharmin's acting in Heeramandi
In a conversation with Ent Live, when asked about Sharmin’s performance in the series, he said, “I feel there should have been higher escalations of emotions in different places. I remember Sanjay sir also saying on sets to not act from here (mind) act from here(heart) to Sharmin and another actor alongside her (Taha Shah). But I don’t know maybe that is what they wanted from her. Maybe that is the one tone they were looking from this character, that is again the director’s call. But yes, she was alright, she did her thing, and we worked pretty easily together.”
When further asked whether this is what was expected out of her character, Jason said, “Maybe mujhe aisa lagta hai agar nahi hai, nahi bola nahi gya to keep it one tone, then I felt the character had a lot of scope and space to do a lot of things. Jo mujhey laga nahi aaya but again I am not the director (If it wasn’t explicitly directed to keep it one tone, I felt the character hada lot of scope and space to do a lot of things. That didn’t come through for me, but then again, I am not the director.)”
Sharmin's Heeramandi co-stars support her
Meanwhile, Sharmin's co-stars from the series are supporting her amid all trolling. Taha Shah Badussha, who essayed the role of Sharmin's love interest Tajdar said, "I have worked with her and I do know as an actor she has tried her best. I literally felt that people would not give me any love, but not the way I am getting. So, the audience can react in a very unpredictable way, to be very honest."
Aditi Rao Hydari, who portrayed Bibbojaan in the period drama, called trolls "mean."
Richa Chadha said, "I think people are allowed to criticize or appreciate, but I don't think that it's good to troll somebody. You can like a piece of work or you can dislike it, but I don't think you should troll anybody. Because after all, everyone is a human being."
Heeramandi also stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha and Sanjeeda Sheikh among others.