The Raw, Honest Depiction Of Seema Kiran Sajdeh In Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives

The Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives season 2 has returned with better sets, cameos and a confident cast. After a successful stint in 2020, the show has doubled on the drama, glamour and luxury. Bhavana Pandey, Neelam Kothari Soni, Maheep Kapoor and Seema Kiran Sajdeh return to reprise their roles and usher us into their COVID-impacted lives. In true Bollywood fashion, however, nothing can keep these ladies away from a good time with an added mix of luxury staycations.

While the first season came across too entitled, too cringe, the new season has oddly evolved into something better as the guarded walls fall down. There is confrontation, their is a certain vulnerability as the Bollywood wives attempt to balance their ever-evolving friendships with the demands of family life and growing business ventures. The most striking of all four is fashion designer Seema Kiran Sajdeh, who is worthy of all the adulation she's is receiving for her turn in the show.

Seema Sajdeh In Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives

Seema, who married Sohail Khan in 1998, divorced earlier this year in May. She previously confirmed that the couple was living separately five years prior to the divorce. They are also parents to two kids, Nirvaan and Yohan.

Her separation with Sohail is discussed at length. Her first step to moving on was by changing the nameplate outside her house from "Khan" to her and her children's first names. "Why do we need surnames," she tells her older son, Nirvaan, who expresses his concern over the change. It is refreshing to see her address her son's thoughts in a sit-down discussion rather than brushing away his abominations of 'we will ultimately always be Khan,' to which Seema adds "I am at a point of my life where I need to think about moving on."

Seema’s track definitely is the most interesting one in the show and relatable as well. She is raw, honest, vulnerable and all at the same time. It is a tantalising feeling to see famous people, usually presented with airbrushed images, crumble in their opulent, privileged but nonetheless problem-filled lives, making them seem almost humane. It’s not all polite, but almost assuring to know that famous people also go similar stuff like us.

The season two acts more of an self-introspection pad for Seema and rightly so it's about finding renewed purpose and financial autonomy (she's a successful designer but wants to do more) after her divorce. She wants to work with sustainable fabrics, she decides to quit designing bridal couture and ventures into styling Gen Z, she is 'creative but not so on clever on the business' according to her entrepreneur brother, Bunty Sajdeh. She wants to work on animal welfare despite her god-invoking fear of animals beyond her pet dog.

"Guys, let's change the world," Seema tells her girl tribe during one of their many soirees. She unapologetically wants to do a lot, and she sure mustn't be stopped.

At a work-setting when show's producer Karan Johar attempts to set her with rapper Badshah, Seema is slightly amused but left in shock. She remarks later to the camera, “When Badshah walked in, I had a whole thing prepared of what I was going to say to him. But yes, I was struck as f**k.” But within few minutes, she begins displaying her new clothing line to Badshah, almost eager to take on his suggestions.

While many of her industry friends dismiss the clothing line as too aggressive and dark, Seema stands by her approach and work. This is a change, a new perspective she is looking forward to.

A chunk of this season’s plot revolves around unresolved tension from the past between Maheep and Bhavana, and between Neelam and Seema. The issue at hand is vaguely described giving no explicit information. Neelam and Seema admittedly shared a different dynamic before actor's marriage to Samir Soni. Seema, who certainly has some unresolved feelings around this, confronts Neelam and attempts to revive the friendships much to her disappointment. "She must realise that nothing in life is more important than your girl tribe," she tells Maheep later in a rant on feminist friendships.

Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives

This self-awareness about their micro, but highly entertaining, bubble runs throughout the Season 2. The fact that all four go through different struggles – as former actresses, mothers to star kids, or insecure wives dealing with their own identities – they represent an entire spectrum of challenges women face, even those with measurable agency.

Reality television works when the contestants strike a balance between offering not only carefully manicured sermons but also the moments of vulnerability. Seema perfectly delivers that.

The views expressed are the author's own.

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