• Source:JND

Farida Jalal has been captivating audiences with her performances since 1960s. Her filmography includes Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, among many others. Not only in films, but her TV show credits include Dekh Bhai Dekh, Shararat and others. She made a remarkable comeback in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar in 2024, where she played the role of Qudsia Begum. Describing her experience working with Bhansali on the show, Farida also recalled how the first shot made her feel uncomfortable and she even froze at the time.

Farida Jalal reminisced about the shooting days of Heeramandi, especially the first shot, which made her uncomfortable. In a conversation with Galatta India, she said, “He (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) said the first shot is you are sitting with a group of nawabzaadis, all over, having a nice party, your son has just come back from abroad, and you have a glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I froze. Main thandi pad gayi.”

She revealed how she said no on the spot for the scene. Farida continued, “I said, ‘Sir, I have never done this.’ There have been instances in my life where such roles came my way, and I have always said no. I was not comfortable, so I said, ‘Sir, I will not hold a cigarette. I will look false.’ He didn’t say a word to me. What a great man! He didn’t even speak about it after that meeting. He just did away with it. I was very tense. He understood that I was not comfortable."

Sharing her happiness after seeing that shot on screen, Farida Jalal added, “I really liked what I saw. I am sure he felt the same. He must have also felt that ‘good, we didn’t go that way.’ I would have been very uncomfortable because I don’t do those things."

Not stopping there, the veteran actress also lauded Sanjay Leela Bhansali's vision and directing skills. Farida added, “He creates that world. We all begin to believe in it. He took us into that era. We don’t know if it was real or fictional, but I believed everything I saw. I loved it. I went with the flow.”

About Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is known for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Black, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Gangubai Kathiawadi, gave a masterpiece in 2024 with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. This Indian period drama series marked his digital debut. Along with Farida Jalal, the series also starred Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Fardeen Khan, and others. The series premiered on Netflix on May 1, 2024.

 

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