'Heeramandi' actor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's niece Sharmin Segal turns off comments on Instagram after receiving flak for the series

Sharmin Segal

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut web series 'Heeramandi' is currently streaming on Netflix. Set in the 1920s Lahore, the film focuses on the courtesans of 'Heeramandi' and their role in India's independence struggle. While the show opened to mixed reactions there has been unanimous praise for the lavish sets, costumes and jewellery used in the show. Sharmin Segal played a prominent role in the series as Alamzeb, daughter of Manish Koirala's character Mallika Jaan. Her character is shown to despise the life of a tawaif and aspires to become a poet. She runs away from Heeramandi to her love from a Nawabi family.

While actors like Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Shekhar Suman, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Manisha Koirala are being praised for their strong performances, Sharmin has been criticised for her act. In the wake of the criticism headed in her direction, the actress has switched off her comment section on Instagram. Netizens have also credited nepotism for her acting in the series.

Sharmin made her acting debut with Bhansali's production ‘Malaal' in 2019. The film co-starred Meezan Jafri. Having closely worked with Bhansali as an assistant director on projects like Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, and Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sharmin went on to star in the horror comedy ‘Atithi Bhooto Bhava'.

In an interview with Firstpost, Segal opened up about working with her uncle Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "As an actor for Sanjay Leela Bhansali you have to give your all and be completely blank. In real life I am nothing like Alam as a person. There is something that Priyanka Chopra taught me: she has this switch from one character to another in Mary Kom or Bajirao Mastani where I was the assistant director. She taught me how to go in and out of character. It is an admirable talent that she has and if you can master that on and off switch you are in a very advantageous position. Hopefully I have done some justice throughout the process because to match up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's expectation, that itself is a huge task."