Netflix India is gearing up to release its over-hyped, over-the-top new series ‘Heeramandi’, aka ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. The series, coming as it does from Bollywood auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is one of the most awaited titles on Netflix currently. For the benefit of those who don’t know, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus ‘Heeramandi’ premieres on Netflix worldwide on 1st May, 2024, which is tomorrow.
A lot is known about Netflix’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar already – the plot, the cast and more. Netflix has been vigorously promoting Heeramandi through carefully curated clips and promos.
What is not known widely, however, is the fact that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is using this extravagant show Heeramandi and Netflix’s generous, deep-pocketed platform to promote nepotism – especially nepotism originating within his own family. The fact is that the actress playing the younger lead, Alam, in Heeramandi is none other Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s own niece. Yes, Sharmin Segal is the daughter of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s sister, Bela Segal.
Sharmin Segal is playing the role of young Alam, Mallikajaan’s (Manisha Koirala) youngest daughter, and the lynchpin of sorts in Heeramandi. It is to be noted that Sharmin Segal has no noteworthy achievement or acting role to her name before landing this all-important role in a prestigious Netflix project.
It is quite obvious that Sharmin Segal got the part owing to the fact that she’s Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece; most certainly favoured over some other, more deserving, actress. Nepotism at its peak!
Heeramandi is set in pre-partition India, in the vibrant city of Lahore. Heeramandi is the notorious district in Lahore that is dotted with “Kothas”, and populated by courtesans. The show explores stories of courtesans and the hidden cultural reality of Heeramandi in pre-independent India. It’s a series about love, betrayal, succession and politics in the kothas of Heeramandi, set against the backdrop of the freedom movement.
Heeramandi stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, Taha Shah, among others.
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