Sanjeeda Shaikh is currently basking in praise for her performance in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Sanjay Leela Bhansali stepped into the OTT world with his debut web series and Sanjeeda plays one of the leads, Waheeda, in the show. She recently recalled shooting a mujra scene on the first day of her period and how the makers were understanding enough to accommodate her needs.
Speaking to Hauterrfly, Sanjeeda said, “I have been very vocal about my periods on sets. I am somebody who would go to the director and say I am chumming.” She added, “My mother, when she got her periods, the first person she told about it to was her Abba. So when my mom said it to her father, then for me, it’s not a big deal to go say it to a director or producer or my co-stars. I just thought it was very normal.”
“I shot for my mujra for Heeramandi on the first day of my periods. For me, it gets really uncomfortable when I am on my second day. It gets difficult. But, I was so engrossed in whatever I was doing that I would forget all pain. But they would also pack me up early. I told them there was a little discomfort and if I rested a little, I would feel better the next day. So, this is the thing. You need to express yourself. If you don’t let them know, they will simply think you are very cranky. So, it is better to tell them why you are cranky in the first place. I also want to tell other women if you are not comfortable with the thought, get comfortable with it,” Sanjeeda said.
Sanjeeda Shaikh has been a popular name in the Indian television industry for long. Sanjeeda revealed that she had not auditioned for the role of Waheeda. In conversation with Filmygyan, Sanjeeda Shaikh said that she was aware that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was making a show called Heeramandi, and she had a meeting with him. She stated, “It was a brief meeting of 10 minutes, and sir mujhse 10- 15 saal pehle mil chuke the, I thought he would not remember about the meeting, but he did, and he was like, you are looking better, looking fresher, and looking happier. And then he asked me not to tell anyone about this meeting.” The actress stated that she went home hoping that she would get the role.
Heeramandi is set in the 1940s against the backdrop of the struggle for independence. It looks at the cultural reality of a major district in pre-partition India through the eyes of courtesans and nawabs. The series stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Sharmin Segal. The star cast also included Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman. The series premiered on Netflix on May 1.
