Shekhar Suman likened actors to soldiers as he came to the defense of Sanjay Leela Bhansali for keeping them waiting on set.
In a Zoom interview, the 61-year-old actor discussed his experience working with the filmmaker Sanjay on Heeramandi.
During the conversation, when he was questioned about whether Sanjay kept actors waiting for extended periods, Shekhar responded by praising him as a maestro who tirelessly pursues perfection.
He also elaborated by suggesting that individuals who lose their character's essence while waiting aren't truly dedicated actors.
Drawing a parallel with soldiers, Shekhar defended the Bajirao Mastani director, stating, “It’s like a soldier waiting for the enemy to attack. He wouldn’t say, ‘I’ve been waiting for 12 hours, now I want to go home’."
"Does it happen? No, he’s there! Whenever the enemy comes, he starts firing. It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing or if it’s hot. An actor has to have the preparedness of a soldier,” he added.
The Heartless star also emphasized that if a director instructs an actor to remain in a particular position for 2-3 days, they should comply, emphasizing the commitment required of actors.
He exclaimed, “You can’t complain about losing your concentration then get the hell out of this place. You have no business being an actor. Whenever you look back, you will look back with so much glee and pride. And that’s why one has so much respect for him."
Shekhar is playing the key role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web-series, Heeramandi, which is streaming on Netflix from May 1, 2024.