Heeramandi Actor Jason Shah Expresses Sympathy for Sharmin Segal Amid Online Trolling: ‘She Could Have Done More…’

Mumbai: Sharmin Segal, niece of acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has found herself amid a whirlwind of negativity for her role as Alamzeb in the period drama ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.’ Her co-star, Jason Shah, recently shared his thoughts on the harsh online words being directed towards Sharmin in an interview, showing his heartfelt concern for her. Scroll down to find more details.

Jason Shah on Sharmin Segal’s Troll In Heeramandi

Jason made it clear that he wasn’t present for Sharmin and Bhansali’s chat, hence he doesn’t have the full picture of what took place. Jason Shah in conversation with Zoom said, “I think it shows that you can have the greatest director there… But, I wasn’t there so I don’t know what was spoken. As a director to actor, maybe that was what they were going for. I am not sure. I have heard a lot about this, honestly, I feel a bit sorry for her. In certain scenes to me it felt like something needs to happen, but it is a different kind of role… To be honest, to keep that one tone, whether it is me smacking her on the table or Tajdar dying, maybe that’s what they were going for (sic).”

Jason openly admitted that in the show, Sharmin’s character could have been delved in more deeply, churning out a higher level of intensity. He spotted several chances where her journey could have taken unexpected turns, leading to a radically different overall arch. However, he also clarified that if the purpose was to depict a particular portrayal, and if it was accomplished successfully, then undoubtedly it was a triumph. On the flip side, if it fell short, then it’s left as it was.

Jason underlines how pivotal it is to pay attention to the audience’s response in assessing performance. He pinpointed, intriguingly, that sharp criticism or statements like ‘I loathe you’ can be paradoxically viewed as accomplishment markers, particularly when portraying a villain. This is because it signifies viewers are effectively emotionally engaged with the persona.

Jason Shah isn’t the only one from Heeramandi backing up Sharmin Segal. Taha Shah had earlier mentioned too, how unjust it was for people to contrast Sharmin with industry veterans like Manisha Koirala or Aditi Rao Hydari. Shekhar Suman also voiced his concern for Sharmin, worrying that online backlash might hurt her.

Caught up in these whirlwinds of conversations, Bhansali stood up for Sharmin’s inclusion in the film, asserting that she perfectly brought the character of Alamzeb to life. He underlined how her honest portrayal met the role’s demands, further spotlighting her purity and unique charm that made her standout amidst other actors. Bhansali firmly clarified that his choice was based only upon her perfect fit for the character, not because she happens to be his niece.