Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest web series, Heeramandi, premiered on Netflix earlier this month, sparking conversations among viewers. Bhansali’s niece, Sharmin Segal plays an important character in the series, which boasts an ensemble cast of acclaimed actors like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Shekhar Suman, and Aditi Rao Hydari.
Sharmin Segal Reveals Alamzeb's Performance Was Inspired By Meena Kumari
While Sharmin Segal has been active in the industry prior to her role in Heeramandi, this project has certainly brought her into the spotlight. She faced significant trolling for her "expressionless" acting in the period drama series. In a recent interview, Sharmin Segal revealed that she drew inspiration from Meena Kumari's performance in Pakeezah (1972) for her role as the tragic Alamzeb.
Discussing her preparation for the Netflix series, Sharmin told ETimes that she trained in dance and diction and credited director Bhansali for enhancing the material with his unique style. She mentioned attempting to watch Pakeezah "15–16 times," but it took her a while to get through it as it was unlike anything she had seen before. "Meena Kumari was one of my inspirations," she said, emphasising the subtlety of Kumari's performance.
Tajdar Amrohi Responds to Heeramandi and Pakeezah Comparison
Days after Sharmin Segal compared her performance in Heeramandi to Meena Kumari’s in Pakeezah, the legendary actor’s stepson, Tajdar Amrohi, has responded to her statement. Tajdar, son of Pakeezah director Kamal Amrohi, shared his thoughts during a recent interaction, expressing that he doesn’t relate to Sharmin’s comparison and stating that Heeramandi can't be compared to Pakeezah.
When Tajdar was asked about Sharmin’s comment that she took inspiration from Meena Kumari’s portrayal of "nothingness" in Pakeezah for her character Alamzeb in Heeramandi. He responded, "I don’t know Sharmin. But no, I can’t relate to her statement on nothingness."
Given that Pakeezah is based on the life of a tawaif in Lucknow and Heeramandi on the lives of tawaifs in Lahore's Heera Mandi red-light district, fans have been comparing the two projects. Addressing these comparisons, Tajdar said, "There is a world of difference between Heeramandi and Pakeezah. Don’t compare the two. Nobody can recreate Pakeezah. Neither Meena Kumari nor Kamal Amrohi can ever be born again.”
In her interview, Sharmin also noted the difference between receiving praise from parents and garnering appreciation from a global audience. While parents saying "good job beta" is one thing, she claimed, the recognition from viewers worldwide holds a special significance. The actor further added that people tend to "fixate on the negatives" and added that perhaps it's "not interesting enough to talk about positives".
For those curious about her background and career, here is an overview of what we know about Sharmin Segal.
Who Is Sharmin Segal
Sharmin Segal pursued her education in acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. This marked her entry into the world of Hollywood education, joining the ranks of distinguished alumni like Sally Field, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, and Chris Evans upon completing her course in 2019.
Hailing from Maharashtra, India, Segal was born into a family deeply rooted in Hindi cinema. She is the daughter of film editor Bela Segal and studio executive Deepak Segal, carrying forward a lineage that extends to renowned Hindi director Mohan Segal as well as late film producers Navin Bhansali and Leela Bhansali.
In her journey as an actor, Sharmin had the unique opportunity to collaborate with family members entrenched in the industry. Notably, she worked under the direction of her uncle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, in the Netflix film Heeramandi. Reflecting on this experience in an interview with Times Now, Sharmin expressed her admiration for her uncle's directorial prowess and hoped to have done justice to his vision on screen.
She said, "It is a privilege to be seen and directed with the perspective and eyes of a legend like Sanjay Sir. At the end of the day, he is my uncle; I can't change that. I also can't change the fact that I wanted to be directed by someone as great as him. I would never want to be treated in any special way. I respect the creator too much. I just hope I have done him."
While neither Sharmin nor Bhansali addressed the criticism of her portrayal, the filmmaker, in conversation with Hindustan Times, shared how he worked with Sharmin on set. "She kept saying, 'Mama, I'll underplay.' I responded, 'Underplay? Do you think I'm going to ask you to overplay?' he said.
The actor, however, chose a partner outside the industry. In November 2023, she tied the knot with Indian businessman Aman Mehta, sharing glimpses of their wedding through her active social media presence. Mehta, who works in the Indian finance sector, leads a largely private life away from the limelight.
Sharmin Segal made her Hindi film debut in 2019 with Malaal, where she portrayed the character of Astha Tripathi. The film tells the story of a young girl in Mumbai who falls in love with a man from her chawl (neighbourhood), earning Segal a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
While Sharmin's prominence grew with her debut performance, her recent appearance in Heeramandi has introduced her to a wider audience. However, actors like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, and Aditi Rao Hydari have been praised for their strong performances, Sharmin Segal has faced criticism for maintaining a consistent expression throughout the show.
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