Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece, Sharmin Segal, has come under fire for her conduct and comments related to her co-star Sanjeeda Shaikh in their recent project “Heeramandi.” The show, which debuted on Netflix on May 1, has been at the center of a heated discussion, especially following a promotional interview that has gone viral on social media. In this interview, Sharmin, Sanjeeda, and Richa Chadha were fielding questions about their experiences working on the show. However, it was Sharmin’s response to Sanjeeda’s praise for Bhansali that ignited a storm of criticism.
During the interview conducted by News18 Showsha, Sanjeeda Shaikh described Sanjay Leela Bhansali as “a perfectionist,” highlighting his pursuit of excellence and his globally recognized creative vision. “He is just a perfectionist. He wants everything to look not mediocre because whatever he does is nothing less than excellence. He is respected all around the world for his brilliant creative mind and incisive honesty towards his craft. He will expect his artist to give that honesty on screen. So I enjoyed all sorts of roops of Mr. Bhansali,” Sanjeeda remarked.
Sharmin Segal, however, interrupted her co-star, contesting the label of “perfectionist” as an inadequate descriptor for her uncle. “I think perfectionist is a very basic word to describe Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It’s the kind of a word that an outsider who has never worked with him, been on his set and seen the kind of director that he is will use that. He is much more than that. He adapts to change very well. He keeps challenging through different things. It is not about being perfect. He looks for rawness, magic, spontaneity. If he was only a perfectionist, he would not treat spontaneity the way he does,” Sharmin stated.
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This moment from the interview quickly went viral on social media platforms, with many netizens calling out Sharmin for what they perceived as disrespectful behavior towards Sanjeeda Shaikh. The controversy deepened as viewers pointed out Sharmin’s patronizing tone, accusing her of demeaning a more experienced actress. One netizen criticized, “She is so insecure and jealous kinda personality,” while another commented, “Only nepotism babies will have the guts to be so rude to a co-star after delivering the worst performance in the entire series.”
Sharmin’s defending of her uncle and questioning the term “perfectionist” also did not sit well with a number of critics. “Sharmin Segal delivered a terrible performance and secondly, she’s being too arrogant defending her overrated filmmaker uncle. Most of his films wouldn’t have looked so fabricated and flashy had he looked for rawness and spontaneity,” read one harsh comment.
The criticism kept pouring in, with another viewer stating, “Only nepotism babies will have the guts to be so rude to a costar after delivering the worst performance in the entire series.” These comments reflect a broader discontent with perceived nepotism in the industry, with Sharmin drawing ire not only for her behavior but also for being seen as a beneficiary of her familial connections.
Adding another layer to the controversy is the fact that Sharmin Segal’s performance in “Heeramandi” has been widely panned. Many netizens were quick to point out the irony of Sharmin’s confidence in discussing Bhansali’s directorial approach while her own performance did not meet the expectations of the audience. “Sharmin Segal delivered a terrible performance and secondly, she’s being too arrogant defending her overrated filmmaker uncle. Most of his films wouldn’t have looked so fabricated and flashy had he looked for rawness and spontaneity. She’s right about him not being a perfectionist,” another critical voice added.
“Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” besides starring Sharmin Segal and Sanjeeda Shaikh, also features prominent names like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Richa Chadha in leading roles. The series had high expectations given Bhansali’s reputation for grandeur and intricate storytelling, but the off-screen drama seems to have taken much of the spotlight.
This controversy isn’t just a minor blip; it’s become a significant discussion point regarding professional etiquette, respect across hierarchies, and the inevitable shadow of nepotism that looms large over Bollywood. While Sharmin Segal’s intention might have been to provide a nuanced understanding of her uncle’s directorial philosophy, the execution of her commentary has seemed to backfire, casting her in a negative light.
The broader question this incident raises is the space for open dialogue in collaborative artistic endeavors and where the line is drawn between constructive criticism and professional disparagement. As the debate rages on social media, it remains to be seen how Sharmin Segal and the rest of the “Heeramandi” team will address this public relations hiccup and move forward.
