Heeramandi actress Sharmin Segal DISAGREES with Shekhar Suman calling her uncle Sanjay Leela Bhansali as a ‘perfectionist’; says, “He’s far more than that”

Known as one of the most beloved and respected filmmakers of the country, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is now making his big web-debut with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar – a web-series, set in pre-Independence era about courtesans. Making her web-debut also is his niece Sharmin Segal, who made her Bollywood debut with Malaal. As the show boasts of an ensemble cast including Shekhar Suman, every actor shared their experience of working with the filmmaker wherein the latter opened up about him being a perfectionist.

When Shekhar Suman, during a recent interaction, was asked about the rumoured anger issues of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the actor lauded him for his work, adding that he can come across as a perfectionist sometimes. However, his niece Sharmin Segal disagrees with it and added that he is beyond that because what he looks in his work, is to create magic.  “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,” Sharmin told News18 Showsha in its recent report.

She explained, “He adapts to change very well. He likes challenging himself with different things. For him it’s not about being perfect. He looks for rawness, magic and spontaneity. And if he was only a perfectionist, he wouldn’t have treated spontaneity and instinctiveness the way he does. He really appreciates those things. So, I wouldn’t call him a purely perfectionist person.”

She further revealed that one cannot box SLB’s work and added, “He’s a hardworking man, whose perseverance is unmatched. Therefore, you’ve to give your hundred percent to match up to him and he pushes and expects the same from people around him. He’s delivering his all and churning all the creative juices he has in his mind. ‘Perfectionist’ is a term used to box Sanjay Leela Bhansali but he’s far more than that,”

She also addressed the rumours about the filmmaker being accused of mistreating people on sets and about him having anger issues. She clarified adding, “He treats technicians, spot boys and camera people with a lot of respect. Behind the scenes, we don’t acknowledge it [the work put forth by the crew]. Actors are a privileged class. We don’t realise this but the art team and the lighting team come three-four hours before we come to the set and leave only after dismantling everything after we leave.”

She also asserted that there are workers who are ready to do overtime for him because of their love and respect towards the filmmaker. “That goes unnoticed on most sets. But on Sanjay sir’s set, people are willing to extend their shifts beyond twelve hours by two-three more hours. They do it out of respect for him and for what he’s creating. I don’t see this happening anywhere else. That’s why, I think boiling him down to a ‘temperamental perfectionist’ is a bit basic,” she concluded.

Speaking of Heeramandi, the show boasts of an ensemble cast including  Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Fardeen Khan, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Adhyayan Suman, Taha Shah Badussha, among others. The show is slated to premiere on Netflix on May 1.

Also Read: Taha Shah Badussha shares priceless moments from Heeramandi screening with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his mother; see pics