Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netflix series, Heeramandi, has captivated audiences since its release on the OTT platform, garnering praise from viewers across India and Pakistan for its portrayal of strong characters. However, the series has also sparked controversy due to Bhansali's romanticization of courtesan culture, drawing criticism from some quarters. One incident that fueled this debate was a video showing Bhansali apparently sidelining actress Richa Chadha in favour of his niece, Sharmin Segal. This clip attracted significant backlash, further polarizing opinions on the series and its director. ALSO READ: DID YOU NOTICE These Blunders In Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar? Netizens Factual Inaccuracies In Sanjay Leela Bhansali's FIRST Web Series
In a recent interview with IMDb, Richa Chadha took a humorous jab at Sharmin Segal after Segal boasted about her cooking skills. Chadha, seemingly surprised by Segal's claim, jokingly questioned her culinary prowess, leading to a playful exchange between the two. Chadha's witty retorts added another layer of intrigue to the ongoing saga surrounding Bhansali's series.
Sharmin mentioned she knew cooking the fact that left Richa surprised. She further revealed that the salad they ate in the morning was made by her. Pulling her leg, the Fukrey star asked her if she had cut the vegetable and did slow claps. To prove her claim, Sharmin added that she cooks amazing food and has been cooking proper Christmas lunches. The 37-year-old then quipped, "I don’t think you and I should sit next to each other." ALSO READ: ‘The Technicians Came Over And Said Thank You’: Shekhar Suman On His Oral S*x Scene With Manisha Koirala In Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar
A viral photo from the set depicted Bhansali embracing Segal while seemingly disregarding Chadha, prompting Chadha to react with visible disappointment. This moment served as a visual representation of the tensions simmering beneath the surface, highlighting the complex dynamics at play within the cast and crew of Heeramandi.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Bhansali's series underscores the nuanced relationship between art, culture, and representation, sparking important conversations about the responsibility of filmmakers in portraying historical and cultural narratives. Moreover, Heeramandi is getting mixed reviews on social media. The show stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Taha Shah Badussha among others. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
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