Heeramandi Actor Indresh Malik Recalls Sanjay Leela Bhansali Giving Him Reward After ‘Nath’ Scene: ‘Rs 500 And a Lot of…’

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first web series, has been incredibly well-received by viewers. The performance of every character in the series mesmerizes viewers just as much as SLB’s vision of wealth. From the leading star cast Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha to side characters like Indresh Malik and Shruti Sharma, everyone left a mark with their performance. Indresh Malik essayed the role of transgender ‘Ustaad Ji’ in Heeramandi. He said that after performing the ‘nath’ sequence on the show and as a result, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali presented him with a token of appreciation for his powerful performance.

Indresh Malik Howled And Cried After ‘Nath’ Scene

In an interview with Times Now, Indresh claimed that despite no dialogues, he had ‘tears’ in his eyes when Sanjay Leela Bhansali described it to him. “The scene for my character felt like, there was someone who accepted me, the one who gave me warmth. Wearing ‘nath’ means gaining respect. That moment when the scene was done, I was crying for almost five minutes or more. I can’t cry silently, so I howled. I was howling and crying like a child, there was a pin-drop silence, ” he said.

Indresh went on to say that Sanjay Leela Bhansali came and hugged him after seeing him cry. Then, as a thank you for doing the ‘nath’ scene so well, SLB offered him Rs. 500. He added, “Sanjay Sir came to me. He said, ‘Dekho, rota jaa raha hai, itna achha toh kiya!’ Then he hugged me and gave me Rs. 500 on the sets as a token of appreciation. I kept thinking about the character, and that carried on for five minutes.”

Indresh Malik aka Ustaad’s Role in Heeramandi

Ustaad was originally intended to be a 20-day part, but while the series was being produced, she developed into a crucial character. Indresh Malik, moved by the depth of his character’s development, remarked, “What was supposed to be a 20-day role went on for more than two years. Scenes would be added on the go, and Ustaad became such an important part of the series.”

Malik delves deeply into the character, illuminating Ustaad’s loyalty as well as the underlying complexity resulting from his turbulent history. “He is a lost soul who has never found love and doesn’t even know which gender to seek it from,” explained Malik, shedding light on Ustaad’s multifaceted nature, ” added the actor.

Heeramandi, which marks Bhansali’s series debut, is based on the lives of red-light district residents in undivided India and the courtesans of Lahore. The period drama stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chaddha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal in the lead.