Actor Defends Co-star Against Heeramandi Criticism.
Actor Shekhar Suman has defended his Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal from online trolls criticizing her portrayal of a character in the Netflix series. Sharmin, the niece of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, plays Almazeb – a courtesan’s daughter. Some viewers took issue with her performance.
However, in an interview, Suman, who plays Nawab Zulfikar, said the criticism has been too harsh. He noted that such an attack could destroy her confidence as a young actress.
Suman pointed out that Bhansali, an acclaimed director, would not have cast Sharmin without believing in her abilities. She had also auditioned extensively for the role. He said people should be fair in their judgment.
Praising her work, Suman said Sharmin executed her character—a reticent personality expressing pain through her eyes—very well. Not all roles require overt displays of emotion, he explained.
The actor also defended Sharmin for showing a straight face upon learning of a character’s death, saying shock can elicit different reactions.
Suman highlighted each performer’s individuality, and Sharmin’s approach was refreshing. In his view, her portrayal of introvert Almazeb was splendid.
While all can improve, harsh criticism should be avoided as it demoralizes, Suman emphasized. Directors envision unconventional characters, and actors deserve leeway in inhabiting diverse roles, he added.
Sharmin’s co-star in the series is Suman’s son, Adhyayan. With his comments, the veteran actor aimed to support Sharmin against online trolling for her performance choice in Heeramandi.
