Farida Jalal thankful for collaborating with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Heeramandi; eager to join any future projects
Farida Jalal, who had been away from the limelight for a long time, made a comeback in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, this year. Her portrayal of Qudsia Begum in the series was well-received by the audience.
Expressing her gratitude towards Bhansali for casting her in the series, Farida Jalal mentioned that she is keen on collaborating with him in his future projects.
Farida Jalal praises Bhansali for Heeramandi
In a recent interview with Zoom, Farida Jalal expressed her admiration for Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his work.
“He is passionate about his creations. People may have different opinions about Heeramandi, but has anyone made something like that for television? It’s the most-watched show, breaking records. His vision has triumphed,” the veteran actress shared.
“I would love to work on any of his future projects and I will persist in reminding him that I want to be a part of his films,” she added.
Farida Jalal recalls her meeting with Bhansali for Heeramandi
Reflecting on her experience playing the role of Tajdar’s grandmother, Qudsia Begum, in Heeramandi, Farida Jalal reminisced about her first meeting with Bhansali regarding the role.
“I met him at his studio. I sat across from him and told him that he had fulfilled a tick on my bucket list by calling me. It took him quite a while to reach out to me. Why?” the veteran actress recalled.
She also mentioned that Bhansali had inquired about her thoughts on Gangubai Kathiawadi, to which she expressed her admiration for the film, stating that she thinks about the Alia Bhatt-starrer frequently.
Farida Jalal likened Bhansali’s work to that of filmmakers like Kamal Amrohi and Raj Kapoor.
Heeramandi features a star-studded cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Shekhar Suman, and Fardeen Khan in significant roles.
The series has been available for streaming on Netflix since May 1, 2024, and a second season is currently in development.